The Kremlin-staged presidential elections underway in ChechnyaRuslan Isayev, North Caucasus - The Kremlin-staged presidential elections have begun in Chechnya, accompanied by heavy security measures. Almost all voting stations were opened at 8 AM and will remain open until 8 PM, Moscow time.
According to Abdul-Kerim Arsakhanov, chairman of the Chechen Election Commission (ChEC), 30% of voters participated by 12 AM, making the election valid.
All polling stations in Chechnya are under permanent police surveillance. Nevertheless, an explosion occurred close to one of the polling stations in Grozny. According to information provided by ChEC, an unidentified young man detonated himself after being asked to present his ID at Griboyedova Street. He died instantly.
The streets of the city are rather empty as many locals and refugees have left, being afraid of possible military actions.
Local TV stations are showing live coverage from various Chechen villages. In the village of Tolstoy-yurt, for example, there is a shot of a building where the local polling station is located with two policemen guarding it. Although no one else was there, the TV reporter cheerfully claimed that more than 50% of the people have already voted.
According to a staff member of one of the presidential candidates, the ChEC has to ensure 65-67% of the votes for Alu Alkhanov, while the others need no more than 10%. Therefore, according to him, the authorities will probably try to falsify the election results.
The preliminary election results are to be published this evening.
(H/E,T) RELATED ARTICLES:
· Situation in Chechnya gets more intense before elections (PW, 28.08.2004)
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