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English Language Page On September 26 people who were leaving the mosque in Achkhoi-Martan after a Friday prayer were surprised to find out that representatives of the local administration were waiting for them. The bureaucrats were handing out free ration packs containing a package of tea and one kilo of sugar which was quite a surprise for the believers. Some of them even said that they hadn’t seen such generosity on the part of local authorities since sheik Mansur’s sermon and the time Chechens became Muslims. As was explained by talkative benefactors, the packs were gifts from Acting President of Chechnya A. Kadyrov. Russian-Chechen Friendship Society On September 26 Chairman of the Chechnya Election Commission Abdul-Kerim Arsakhanov stated that on the day of elections 425 polling stations would be opened where about 545,000 voters could vote, including some 30,000 Russian servicemen stationed in Chechnya permanently. 580,000 ballot forms were printed for the elections. kavkaz.memo.ru On September 26 in Brussels, on behalf of the European Union, the statement of Italy, the EU Chairman, was published on the Chechnya elections. The statement says that the EU notes the facts of candidates intimidation and forgery in the course of the election campaign. Then it stresses that the elections should be recognized as legitimate by all the Chechens including those residing outside Chechnya. This EU statement is stronger-worded than usual and it calls for Russia to provide answers to accusations related to violated human rights in Chechnya. Moscow is urged to guarantee that the Chechens who had found refuge in other republics of the Northern Caucasus will not be forcefully returned to Chechnya. The EU draws the attention of Russia to the fact that it is independent mass media that plays a fundamental role in organizing and conducting free elections. The statement points out that since 1999 the EU has sent 110 billion Euro worth of humanitarian aid to the Northern Caucasus, thus being the largest donor for the region. kavkaz.memo.ru On September 26 the closed door meeting of the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe resolved not to send observers to the forthcoming presidential elections in Chechnya. kavkaz.memo.ru On September 23–27 the public opinion polling service "Validata" conducted a poll in 86 localities in all the 15 districts of the republic. The poll showed that 66% of the Chechnya population were ready to take part in the elections. According to the poll, up to 60% of those willing to vote would possibly be voting for Akhmat Kadyrov. kavkaz.memo.ru During the night of September 27 in the village of Alleroi of the Kurchaloi district some unidentified persons threw around leaflets entitled “File.” They contain extracts from the interview by Ramzan Kadyrov, son of the Acting President and head of his personal security forces, which he gave to the Chechen TV on August 1, 2003, an extract from Chechen field commander Doku Umarov’s appeal to “ Kadyrov supporters,” and the words of Kadyrov himself who said after the end of the war in 1994–96, that “ if a Muslim shakes hands with a Christian he is taking a risk of becoming a Christian himself.” These words are illustrated with Kadyrov’s picture hugging President Putin. kavkaz.memo.ru On September 27 Buvai-Sari Arsakhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Chechnya Election Commission, stated that the republic was practically ready for the presidential elections. “The preparation for the elections is carried out in a calm atmosphere. There have been no serious incidents registered which could have any connection with attempted terrorist attacks against the buildings housing polling stations.” kavkaz.memo.ru On September 28in Nozhai-Yurt, polling station #84 was fired at from assault rifles by unidentified gunmen. As a result of the shooting a guard was killed and the building was slightly damaged. kavkaz.memo.ru On September 28 a diplomatic scandal is mounting concerning Akhmat Kadyrov being included in the Russian delegation for the Russian-American summit. The US side made it clear that Kadyrov’s presence in Washington and Camp David is highly undesirable. A White House spokesman in his interview for the Los Angeles Times categorically stated, “ He (Kadyrov) is not going to Camp David.” kavkaz.memo.ru During the night of September 28–29 some unidentified persons put leaflets on the walls of the school and village administration buildings in Belgatoi, Shali district. The leaflets urge people not to vote at the presidential elections in Chechnya. kavkaz.memo.ru On September 29the President Hotel in Moscow hosted a meeting of leaders of Russian communities who had left Chechnya, with A. Kadyrov, a candidate in a presidential election race in Chechnya. Representatives came from Stavropol region, Voronezh and Rostov regions, Karelia. At the meeting one of the top priority issues was compensations payment for the lost property and shelter which started September 25, 2003. The meeting also discussed the question of the Russian speaking population coming back to Chechnya. kavkaz.memo.ru On September 29 an arson attempt on a school—based polling station was prevented by local residents in the Urdyukhoi village in the Shatoi district. kavkaz.memo.ru On September 29 in the town of Aiti-Mokh of the Nozhai-Yurt district of Chechnya unidentified gunmen opened fire at the police patrol guarding polling station #232. Aha Ahmatukaev was killed in the exchange of fire. The attackers managed to get hold of two Kalashnikov assault rifles and a Makarov pistol. kavkaz.memo.ru On September 29 unprecedented security measures were taken on the administrative border between Ingushetia and Chechnya. Additional interior forces and Ingushetia police patrols reinforced with armor were put along the perimeter of the border. All tent camps for temporary relocated persons are patrolled by reinforced guard units, all field paths are blocked between Chechnya and Igushetia. The above security measures are undertaken in connection with the upcoming presidential elections in Chechnya. kavkaz.memo.ru On September 29 in tent camps and places of compact residence of Chechen refugees in the territory of Ingushetia officials started to issue application forms for voting at the presidential elections in Chechnya. Thus, the constitution pre-referendum situation of March 23, 2003, is developing again. Both at that time and now there have been occurrences when bureaucrats of various levels threaten refugees that if they refuse to participate at the elections they would be taken off the humanitarian aid lists and they will lose the opportunity to get compensation payment for the housing and property they had lost. kavkaz.memo.ru On September 30 in connection with the presidential elections in Chechnya all units of Dagestan police assumed a more rigid operation mode. Dagestan police believe that those who oppose the elections in Chechnya may penetrate the adjacent territories. kavkaz.memo.ru On September 30 North Osetia police chief, K. Dzantiev, ordered that the personnel of the police force assume a more rigid operation regime. Today in North Osetia special investigation operational groups and mobile patrols have been established. Local newspapers published telephone numbers which could be used to call fast response investigation teams. Passport and visa control, as well as vehicle inspection became more strict. Public places which concentrate a lot of people such as marketplaces, train stations and major stores are permanently under surveillance. kavkaz.memo.ru September 30. Representatives from the League of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference will observe the presidential elections in Chechnya. Some other international organizations will also send their observers. Earlier the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe had refused to send its representatives as election observers. kavkaz.memo.ru September 30. Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation, Yu. Chaika, called the PACE refusal to send its observers to Chechnya presidential elections a mistake. According to the Minister, if Russia invites international observers, that implies that their safety is guaranteed. He added that earlier all delegations had been provided reliable security including by Ministry of Justice special task units. kavkaz.memo.ru On September 30, the statement by 25 deputies of the parliament of unrecognized Chechen Republic of Ichkeria was made public. The statement says that “on October 5 there can be no elections on the territory of sovereign, democratic, independent, law-based Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in connection with the military occupation.” The Ichkeria deputies urge the international community to support this position, which in their opinion “meets morale norms and conforms entirely to the current international law.” They call upon international organizations — UN, OSCE, PACE and the CoE to boycott the October 5 presidential elections in Chechnya. The statement resolutely denies the fact of impeachment of the Ichkeria President A. Maskhadov which was reported by Russian mass media on September 12, 2003. The statement expresses hope that the international community will take the side of the Parliament and the President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. kavkaz.memo.ru On September 30an attempt to blow up a polling station was prevented in the Samashki village of Achkhoi-Martan district. Federal forces personnel engaged in engineering reconnaissance discovered a black bag some 30 meters from the polling station containing a powerful explosive device. The search of the neighboring buildings resulted in finding a hideout and an assault rifle and a grenade launcher in it. kavkaz.memo.ru On September 30in Chechnya federal servicemen started to guard all 425 polling stations in anticipation of the presidential elections scheduled for October 5. kavkaz.memo.ru An All-Russian survey conducted in late September by the ROMIR polling center revealed that the majority of Russian citizens (59%) believe that the situation in Chechnya after the presidential elections will not change. 21% of the respondents are of the opinion that the situation will change for the better, and 13% are sure that it will deteriorate. Besides, the survey shows that 51% of respondents in Russia do not support the policy pursued by the Russian authorities towards the Chechen Republic. At the same time 43% of Russian citizens have some kind of a positive attitude to federal actions in Chechnya. The survey covered 1,500 respondents using the technique of mass polls. kavkaz.memo.ru On October 1in the city of Grozny on Saikhanov Street a house burnt down where Akhmat Kadyrov’s election headquarters were located for the Oktyabrsky district of the Chechen capital. KMNews.Ru On October 1 A. Politkovskaya, Novaya Gazeta observer, talking on the “Echo of Moscow” Radio stated that “the Russian authorities are playing against themselves not providing precise and complete information about the developments in Chechnya due to political reasons,” including the situation with poisoned Chairman of the Chechen Government Anatoli Popov.” “The reality is that everything unpleasant related to Chechnya is not to be made public till October 5, even a military criminal trial,” Politkovskaya noted. According to her, “it means that the authorities are panicky with fear that their plans will be upset. The plans are the presidential elections in Chechnya on October 5.” kavkaz.memo.ru On October 1the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Russia responded to the concerns expressed by the European Union regarding presidential election preparation in Chechnya. Ambassador of Italy, G. Bonetti, Ambassador of Ireland, G. Harmam, and head of the European Commission’s mission Richard Wright. Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation V. Chizhov presented a political assessment of the statements made by the EU recently which expressed concern about presidential elections preparations in Chechnya. He detailed the stand of the Russian federal authorities on issues under consideration. kavkaz.memo.ru On October 2 the Association of Belgian Chechens called upon all Chechens in Europe to take part in a protest rally scheduled for October 3 “against the attempt of the Russian government to hold presidential elections in occupied Chechnya.” “The action will be carried out throughout Europe. Each Chechen can join in by having a banner near the house or by hoisting the Chechen flag at 3 p.m. sharp, Brussels time.” kavkaz.memo.ru On October 2 Abdul-Kerim Arsakhanov, Chair of the Chechnya Election Commission, stated that “Chechnya is 100% ready for the elections.” According to him, all 425 polling stations are fully technically equipped and supplied with required numbers of ballot forms. “561,000 people in Chechnya are entitled to vote including about 30,000 servicemen of the units stationed in Chechnya permanently,” said Arsakhanov. “The system of security in the republic allows us to say that the elections will not be frustrated, but we cannot rule out isolated incidents.” Besides that, Arsakhanov stressed that the Chechen migrants who live in Igushetia now will be able to take part in the elections. They will be brought to the polling stations located in Sernovodsk and Assinovskaya in Chechnya by buses. “We expect that 1,500–2,000 thousand IDPs will also take part in the elections,” he added. kavkaz.memo.ru Back |
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