People in Urus-Martan support AlkhanovRuslan Isayev, North Caucasus - People in almost all villages in the Urus-Martanovsky district will probably vote for Alu Alkhanov, the Kremlin-backed presidential candidate.
Our PW correspondent was able to talk to several of the townspeople of Urus-Martan about the upcoming presidential election and got their views on what the priorities of the new Chechen president should look like. And nearly all the residents will go to the polls because Alkhanov comes from the town.
Raisa, 42:
"The first thing the new president should do is to ensure safety for the people. And the war, of course, must be stopped as well. I’m even ready to go hungry in order to be safe. I’m even afraid to go to Grozny to the hospital because no one knows what can happen in that city."
Khava, 48 (Her son disappeared in 2001 after leaving home to become a policeman. That is why she wants the president to take care of the fate of abducted people first):
"I want the president to pay attention to the cases of the people who have disappeared. Let their relatives know what happened to them. In case they’re guilty they should be judged, otherwise let us know about their fate and where they are now."
Malika, 33:
"We will all vote as we did during the previous Chechen and federal elections. We’re dutiful citizens of the Russian Federation. Everybody will vote for Alkhanov because, first of all, he comes from this town and secondly, he is the only competent candidate – he is a policeman and I think he will restore order here.
The most important thing is that he shouldn’t allow the people around him to manipulate him. On the other hand, I’m sorry for the future Chechen president. All the previous ones died while in office. But someone has to be the president; so I think Alkhanov will make it."
(H/E,T) RELATED ARTICLES:
· On the eve of Chechen elections: Alkhanov is the most visible (PW, 24.08.2004)
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