13 June 2004 03:19
Chechen interior ministry still undecided about presidential race
GROZNY. June 13 (Interfax) - Chechen Interior Minister Alu Alkhanov has not yet made a final decision on whether to
run in the republic's early presidential elections or not.
Alkhanov told Interfax on Sunday that he has received several thousand letters asking him to join the presidential
race.
He pledged to avoid any steps during the election campaign
that could split the people and heighten tensions. "I am
"Both people who supported [Chechnya's late President Akhmad] Kadyrov from the first days of the
counter-terrorism operation and the population of the Chechen Republic think that I should become president to continue
this cause. They think that I as my people's son will have to take their opinion into consideration," Alkhanov
said, declining to say when his final decision on the presidential elections could be expected.
He said that even if he decided not to run, he "will do everything in his power to help and support the
republic's next president, no matter who wins [the elections.]
confident that on the contrary, the elections should help the Chechen people consolidate, irrespective of their
nationality," Alkhanov said.
"A person who will become Chechnya's president at this stage will have to bear an unprecedentedly high
degree of responsibility. The results of his work, his ability to do his job well and consolidate the Chechen people
will be crucial to the country's life for many decades, or, probably centuries," he said.
"That is why, from my point of view, a person who decides to run in this elections should be confident that he
has strong ties with the people, that the people will support him, and he will be able to consolidate around himself
people as committed to Chechnya's revival as he is," Alkhanov said.
Chechnya's August 29 early presidential elections will be called following Kadyrov's death in a terrorist
attack during Victory Day celebrations on May 9.
People willing to join the presidential race have until Monday, June 14, to submit their registration documents to
the republic's elections commission. The election campaign will start on Tuesday. [RU EUROPE EEU EMRG POL VOTE]
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[Interfax] |
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