Vyacheslav Bitarov

Former Head of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania

General Biographical Information 

• Vyacheslav Bitarov was born on February 21, 1961 in the village of Upper Sadoni, North Ossetian ASSR, RSFSR, USSR.
• In 1984, he graduated from Gorski Agricultural Institute (located in the city of Orjonikidze, currently Vladikavkaz) with the specialty of engineer-mechanic.
• From 1984 to 1986, he served in the Soviet Army.
• Bitarov is the President of the Judo Federation of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania.
• According to official data, he is considered to be the richest public servant among the leaders of North Caucasus republics.

Professional Career

• In 1978, he started working as a locksmith.
• After finishing military service, he worked as engineer-mechanic in a farming collective. Later he also worked as Deputy Director there.
• In 1991, he headed a farm.
• From 2002 to 2007, he was a Director of an agricultural company.
• In 2007, he was the General Director of Bavaria Brewery. In the following years, he got involved in local political life for some time. In 2012, he returned to the position of the General Director of Bavaria Brewery.

Political Career

• From 2003 to 2007, he was a member of the Vladikavkaz City Council.
• In 2007, he became an MP of the Fourth Parliament of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania. He was an independent candidate. From 2010 to 2012, he was a Chairman of the Agricultural Committee. On June 8, 2012, he was elected to the position of the Deputy Chairman of the Parliament of the Republic.
• On October 14, 2012, he became an MP of the Fifth Parliament of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania. He was the candidate of the ruling party, United Russia. However, soon after his election, in November, he returned to his business enterprise.
• On June 10, 2015, he temporarily became the Acting First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania.
• On September 24, 2015, he was appointed to the position of the Chairman of the Government of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania.
• On February 29, 2016, at the Directive of the President of the Russian Federation, he was appointed to the position of temporary Acting Head of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania, due to the death of the previous Head.
• On September 18, 2016, he was elected to the position of the Head of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania for five years through a secret vote in the Parliament of the Republic, a total of 56 out of 70 MPs supported his candidacy. His inauguration was also attended by the representatives of Tskhinvali Region.
• According to the surveys conducted in the Russian Federation, given the social-economic situation in the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania, Bitarov had one of the lowest ratings among Governors in the country. Presumably this was the reason why there were periodic rumors about his resignation.

Relations with Tskhinvali Region

• On September 20, 2016, Bitarov participated in the events on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the declaration of independence of so-called South Ossetia in Tskhinvali Region.
• On March 26, 2017, Bitarov met with the citizens of Tskhinvali Region living in North Ossetia together with the de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, Leonid Tibilov. At the meeting Bitarov stated that “despite the fact the Ossetians are divided by a mountain range, they represent a single nation and sooner or later justice will be done and North and South Ossetia will be a single republic again.” 
• Bitarov was also involved in the April 9, 2017 illegitimate Presidential Elections, where he openly supported the incumbent de facto President, Leonid Tibilov. However, this did not prevent him from attending the inauguration of Anatoly Bibilov in Tskhinvali, when he was the one who won the elections.
• On August 26, 2017, Bitarov attended the 9thanniversary of Russian recognition of Tskhinvali Region’s independence.
• On September 20, 2017, Bitarov participated in the events marking the 27th anniversary of the declaration of the so-called Republic of South Ossetia in Tskhinvali Region.
• On August 9, 2018, during the meeting with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, on Putin’s question about how the relations between North Ossetia and Tskhinvali Region are going, Bitarov said that “we are one people; we have common culture and language. Governments of the two republics are helping one another and we try to pose every issue in such a way, that our work is based on mutual understanding and assistance.” 
• On August 26, 2018, on the 10th anniversary of Russian recognition of the independence of Tskhinvali Region, Bitarov was given the Order of Honor for strengthening relations between two parts of Ossetia (Republic of North Ossetia – Alania and Tskhinvali Region). In his own right, Bitarov awarded the de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, Anatoly Bibilov with the highest award of North Ossetia for “Contribution in Developing and Strengthening Ties between North and South Ossetia”. Bitarov was visiting Tskhinvali with a numerous delegation and participated in various events.
• On September 20, 2018, Bitarov participated in the 28th anniversary of the declaration of the so-called Republic of South Ossetia in Tskhinvali Region.
• On May 29, 2019, Bitarov visited Tskhinvali. Bitarov participated in the event dedicated to the 27th anniversary of the declaration of independence of so-called “South Ossetia Republic“. Bitarov met with Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, and discussed cooperation issues.
• On August 8, 2019, on the 11th anniversary of the August war, Bitarov sent a telegram to the de facto President of the Tskhinvali region, Anatoly Bibilov. In the telegram he expressed gratitude to Russia for “assisting the people of the Republic of South Ossetia and stopping the Georgian army's sudden attack on the lives of peacekeepers, women, old people, children and ultimately on the freedom and independence of South Ossetia.”
• On August 26, 2019, in Tskhinvali, Bitarov attended the opening of a solemn exhibition dedicated to the 11th anniversary of Russia's recognition of the “independence” of the Tskhinvali region. He also took part in a solemn ethnographic event. He congratulated the people of the region on the day and added that “he is pleased to see how the republic is developing.”
• On August 26, 2020, a telephone conversation took place between Bitarov and Anatoly Bibilov, the de facto President of the Tskhinvali region. During the conversation, Bitarov congratulated Bibilov on the 12th anniversary of the Russia’s recognition of the “independence” of the Tskhinvali region. He also noted that “the historic decision of the Russian Federation creates new opportunities for the development and prosperity of the Ossetian people.”
• On November 3, 2020, during a telephone conversation, Bitarov and Bibilov, the de facto President of the Tskhinvali region, discussed prospects of cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus. According to Bitarov, he “considers himself obliged to provide all possible assistance to his brothers and sisters in the fight against the epidemic.”