For a long time now, Eduard Kokoity, president of the breakaway Georgian republic South Ossetia, has been seeking to have his region unified with the Russia-controlled region of North Ossetia, reported dpa.
For the Georgian government, Kokoity, a father of three who likes to appear in military uniform, is a dangerous separatist figure.
Born October 31, 1964 in the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali, Kokoity in the 1980s served in the Soviet army. After professionally qualifying as an electrician, he then studied physical education.
His political career began after the region fought a bloody civil war against Georgia, when he joined the South Ossetian parliament. In 2001, he won the republic's presidential elections and was confirmed to office in November 2006.
Kokoity, who also won a championship title in freestyle wrestling, is regarded as a hard-liner, rejecting an offer of autonomy for South Ossetia made by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Kokoity, who is believed by many to have close ties to mafia-like organisations in his country, also holds a Russian passport, as do many other South Ossetians.
As to his political programme, the pro-Russian politician once said: "First, independence from Georgia, and second, reunification with (the Russian province of) North Ossetia."