Torez Kulumbegov

Torez Georgievich Kulumbegov (Торез Георгиевич Кулумбегов, Хъуылымбегты Торез; September 2, 1938 – October 1, 2006), was a political leader of South Ossetia, a former Soviet Autonomous Oblast which unilaterally elevated its status to Republic in 1990 and declared its independence from Georgia in 1991. Kulumbegov ruled as chairman of the Presidium of the South Ossetian Supreme Council, i. e., head of the self-proclaimed Republic, from December 1991 to September 1993. Before this event, he was held prisoner by Georgian police in Tblisi from 29 January 1991 until January 1992.

Kulumbegov died in Moscow on 1 October 2006 after a serious illness. He was buried in Tskhinvali.