Russian
Soldiers Allowed to Vote in Chechnya Referendum
VOA News - 04 Feb 2003
Nearly 40,000 Russian troops stationed in Chechnya will vote in next month's
constitutional referendum in the breakaway republic, but Russian officials
say that should not skew the results.*
Russia's human rights envoy for Chechnya, Abdul-Khakim Sultygov, says the
soldiers represent about seven percent of those eligible to vote.
The referendum, scheduled for March 23, is on a new constitution which makes
clear that the republic of Chechnya is a part of the Russian Federation.
Moscow has promised to go ahead with the referendum despite worries by foreign
observers that a lack of security in the region may make it difficult to hold
a fair election.