13 June 2004 13:38
Emerging favourite agrees to stand in Chechnya poll - Russian TV
Chechen Interior Minister Alu Alkhanov has accepted nomination for the August presidential election in Chechnya,
Russia TV reported. In an interview, he called for the poll to be conducted democratically,.
"It became known today that Chechen Interior Minister Alu Alkhanov has taken a final decision to stand for the
republic's top post - that of president," the television reported.
In the interview, Alkhanov said: "I am deeply convinced that the elections should be as democratic as possible.
I am deeply convinced that the Chechen people, the residents of the Chechen Republic, should elect a candidate, a person
in whom they believe the most today."
Alkhanov thanked those who nominated him as candidate: "I'm a very grateful, above all, to the people who
have found my candidacy suitable. It is likely that their decision is linked to specific hopes of theirs and, above all,
to the fact that I was one of the close men of our [late] President Akhmat Kadyrov [killed in an explosion in Groznyy in
May]," he said.
The report showed crowds of Alkhanov's supporters in the town of Urus-Martan, and several people saying in
interviews that Alkhanov was an honest man worthy of being elected president.
[According to ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1136 gmt 13 Jun 04, Alkhanov has not taken a final decision
yet on whether to stand in the 29 August poll. "I shall officially announce my decision in the near future,"
the agency quoted him as saying.]
[RTR Russia TV] |
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