Georgia: Russian Construction Company Boss Becomes South Ossetia's New Premier

Russian construction company chief Vadim Brovtsev has become the de facto prime minister of breakaway South Ossetia, replacing Aslan Bulavtsev, a former Russian security services colonel.

On August 5, South Ossetia's 27-seat parliament confirmed Brovtsev in the post. Russia's Kommersant newspaper said that Brovtsev is expected to use his experience as general director of the Russian Vermikulit construction company to help rebuild South Ossetia's capital, Tskhinvali, which was badly damaged during last year's Georgia-Russia war.

On August 4, South Ossetia's leader, Eduard Kokoity, disbanded the government led by Bulatsev. Some Russian commentators say that the move marks Moscow's attempt to fill the cabinet with people it can trust. Moscow funneled money into rehabilitating Tskhnivali, but the slow pace of reconstruction has sparked accusations of graft and embezzlement, the Kavkazsky Uzel news portal reported.