02 June 2004 14:40
Chechens nominate possible contenders for presidency
[Presenter] Chechen Interior Minister Alu Alkhanov is likely to become the first [officially nominated] candidate for
the post of Chechen president.
[Correspondent] Last night members of the public gathered for a meeting in the village of Meken-Yurt in
Chechnya's Nadterechnyy District. At the end of the meeting they passed an appeal to Chechen Interior Minister Alu
Alkhanov to run in the forthcoming [presidential] election. They said the interior minister was a well-known man in the
republic, who had maintained a firm position throughout the whole antiterrorist operation in Chechnya and did his best
to fight terrorists.
Alkhanov has not yet stated his intention to run for presidency, although it is believed that his chances of becoming
the next Chechen leader are higher than those of all other possible contenders. His candidacy is acceptable to the
security forces, the civil authorities and, most importantly, to Moscow. There have even been media reports that
Alkhanov was recommended to the Kremlin by Ramzan Kadyrov, the late Chechen president's son.
[Presenter] At the same time over 27,000 Chechen residents signed a petition to the general council of the One Russia
party, expressing their support for State Duma member Ruslan Yamadayev as a possible Chechen presidential candidate.
[Ekho Moskvy radio] |
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