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Putin
removes likely winner from Chechen elections
TEXT: Gazeta.Ru
With less than a month left before Chechens vote for a new president
in their war-torn republic, Aslanbek Aslakhanov, one of the most
popular Chechen political figures, unexpectedly withdrew from the
race after Vladimir Putin offered him the post of presidential aide
for Chechnya. The move is seen as the Kremlin's attempt to clear the
way for the largely unpopular Moscow-backed incumbent, Akhmad
Kadyrov.
The State Duma deputy for Chechnya Aslanbek Aslakhanov said on Tuesday
that he has been appointed an aide to the Russian president. ''When
I spoke to President Vladimir Putin on the telephone yesterday,
the head of state offered me the post of an aide. I accepted the
offer,'' Aslakhanov told journalists on Thursday.
Interfax news agency quoted a ''senior source in the Kremlin'' as confirming
that Putin was ''shortly expected to sign a decree'' appointing Aslakhanov
presidential aide ''to deal with problems in the south of Russia''.
Aslakhanov, whose influence and popularity in Chechnya is undisputable,
and whom most opinion polls put ahead of incumbent Akhmad Kadyrov in
the Chechen presidential race, announced his withdrawal on Thursday.
At the same time, Aslakhanov admitted that the decision to pull out
of the election was not an easy one for him. ''After pondering over
it for a long time and conferring with my staff, I have taken a very
difficult decision, not to take part in the election,'' Aslakhanov told
journalists.
Aslakhanov's withdrawal clears the way for Akhmad Kadyrov, the former
rebel turned pro-Moscow Chechen leader. Kadyrov's rating in the republic
is extremely low; however, he seems confident of victory.
Aslakhanov has won acclaim and respect from his fellow countrymen for
his harsh criticism of the war in Chechnya. The State Duma deputy was
one of the last to apply for official registration as a candidate in
the republican election commission. Like some of his potential rivals
he decided not to collect voters' signatures, but instead made a
financial deposit.
He is the second hopeful to pull out from the race in less than a
week. Earlier this month Moscow-based entrepreneur Hussein Dzhabrailov
announced his withdrawal from the election. The deputy director
general of the Rossia Hotel was officially registered as a candidate
for the presidential post in Chechnya on August 27, upon making a financial
deposit of 4.5 million roubles.
Though his campaigning was barely noticeable, like Aslakhanov, he is
well known in the republic. The well-to-do Chechen has won the confidence
of his fellow countrymen for his generosity: Dzhabrailov was considered
the third most popular presidential candidate in the republic after
Aslakhanov and another Moscow-based businessman Malik Saidullayev, leaving
the incumbent leader of the republic far behind in the polls.
Some observers suggested Dzhabrailov had been asked to pull out by the
Kremlin, which after much hesitation has finally decided to throw its
support behind Akhmad Kadyrov. Dzhabrailov's aides refuted the assumption.
Many believe that the candidate may also have been pressured to leave
by Akhmad Kadyrov. ''The present election campaign is being held in
extremely difficult conditions. Every day in my homeland people get
killed and go missing; explosions and murder attempts occur,'' Dzhabrailov
said in his official statement.
The withdrawal of Hussein Dzhabrailov and, subsequently, of Aslanbek
Aslakhanov has left 9 candidates in the field. They are: the incumbent
leader of Chechnya, Moscow-appointed Akhmad Kadyrov; Moscow-based entrepreneur
Malik Saidullayev; professor of the Grozny University Avkhad Khachukayev;
deputy military commandant of Chechnya Said-Selim Tsuyev; deputy director
general of a local oil and gas company Kudus Saduyev; former head of
the Achkhoi-Martan district administration Shamil Burayev, who was sacked
recently by Akhmad Kadyrov; Chechen poet Nikolai Paizullayev; unemployed
Abdulla Bugayev, and former vice-premier of Ichkeria Hussein Biibulatov,
currently an advisor for the head of the nuclear safety centre near
Moscow.
Aslakhanov's decision to quit the race leaves the incumbent Kadyrov
with only one serious rival, the entrepreneur Malik Saidullayev, whose
chances of winning the Chechen presidency no longer seem realistic,
given the Kremlin's obvious support for Kadyrov and the strong regiment
of well-armed militias the incumbent has at his disposal.
Last week Akhmad Kadyrov sacked Bislan Gantamirov, his old opponent,
from the post of republican media minister after Gantamirov refused
to back the incumbent in the forthcoming election. Gantamirov has led
the campaign to unseat Kadyrov, pledging not to allow the incumbent
to use local media to his advantage in the election campaign. The Kremlin
did not interfere in the row. Control over the Chechen media was transferred
to Kadyrov's aide Taus Dzhabrailov.
11 Sep.16:42 Gazeta ru
Normal
election campaign in Chechnya impossible, says candidate who quit
Itar-Tass, Moscow, 11 September: State Duma deputy Aslambek Aslakhanov
has decided to pull out of the presidential race in Chechnya, he told
ITAR-TASS today.
Among the reasons for his withdrawal he named "the impossibility of
conducting a normal election campaign".
"The situation in Chechnya remains tense, the necessary conditions have
not been created," he believes. "The decision was a difficult one, I
pondered on it all night, consulted my staff. In the end I decided to
pull out," the deputy stressed.
"No-one was putting pressure" on him in this matter, he added.
[Passage omitted: Kremlin source has confirmed Aslakhanov is to be appointed
aide to Putin]
Nine contenders remain in the Chechen presidential race ahead of the
election scheduled for 5 October. First deputy managing director of
the Rossiya hotel [in Moscow] Khuseyn Dzhabrailov pulled out earlier.
Itar-Tass
Aslambek Aslakhanov appointed aide to Russian President;
withdraws his candidature from presidential race
State Duma deputy Aslambek Aslakhanov told the press on Thursday
that he has accepted Russian President Vladimir Putin's offer to become
his aide. Putin is expected to sign a decree appointing Aslakhanov soon,
a high-ranking Kremlin source has reported. Aslakhanov will be in charge
of affairs in Southern Russia, he said.
"I accepted with gratitude the president's offer. I am the first Chechen
to be offered this position. I am absolutely confident that as an aide
to the head of state, I will be able to do more for the republic than
I could as just a State Duma member," Aslakhanov told the press. He
also said that he has withdrawn from the Chechen presidential race.
"After giving it serious thought and having numerous conferences with
my headquarters, I have made a decision, which was very hard for me,
not to remain in the presidential race," he said.
[11.09.2003
16:12] The Chechen Times
Caucasus Times
11 September 2003
Gunmen post Kadyrov propaganda posters in Urus-Martan
Since the morning of September 10, armed campaigners for Kadyrov started
posting propaganda posters in Urus-Martan to vote for Akhmad Kadyrov
as Chechnya president.
The campaigners appeared to be Ramzan Kadyrov's gunmen, the special
task police, the Caucasus Times correspondent citing the local inhabitants.
"Just yesterday several Kadyrov's posters displayed around here had
been torn off by the folks," says Bekmarza Daudov, a 65-year-old local
man. "Now these guys here are at it again posting them in vain."
"Why on earth the gunmen should be campaigning for their candidate,
is this election campaign or a firefight?" A bystander Vakha complains.
They intimidate people in broad daylight. But we've became strong and
nobody gets us scared anymore. I'm not going to vote for Kadyrov as
well as my neighbors. We've had it enough what his men were doing here."
The locals of Urus-Martan affirmed no Kadyrov's opponents posters were
allowed there. It is strictly forbidden. Any official who would dare
to have, say, Malik Saedulayev's poster displayed somewhere around,
is at risk to get fired right away. However, the similar situation is
true for the rest of the republic.
"Without exaggeration, the elections run under a slogan "Everyone to
vote for Kadyrov the president!" noted Ramzan Jaubatirov, a local man
from Groznyy. "The populace is being mesmerized 'Kadyrov is the president',
no one else."
Ruslan Adayev, Chechnya Caucasus Times
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