15 June 2004 18:30
Putin gives green light to Chechen election candidate
President Putin has met Chechen Interior Minister Alu Alkhanov to discuss his decision to run in the Chechen
presidential campaign, according to a TV report. Putin asked the minister to find a reliable person to be appointed
acting interior minister while Alkhanov takes part in the election race and urged him not to slacken control over the
funds that the federal centre allocates for the restoration of Chechnya. The following is the text of a report broadcast
by Russia TV on 15 June.
[Presenter] We have just received a video report on Vladimir Putin's meeting with the head of the Chechen
Internal Affairs Ministry, Alu Alkhanov. He will run in the presidential election in Chechnya and is therefore going on
holiday for the period of the election campaign.
[Alkhanov] Taking into account the sociopolitical situation in the republic, I asked Vladimir Anatolyevich Yakovlev
[presidential envoy in the Southern Federal District] to arrange a meeting with you. The thing is that various sections
of the population in the republic urged me to join the presidential race. I explain this by the fact that people want
the policy line which the federal centre pursues and which Akhmat Khadzhi Kadyrov pursued to be continued. This is the
policy of further stabilization of life in society and in the republic as a whole.
I believe that, taking into account my knowledge of the situation that has taken shape in the republic, and taking
into the account that I know, in principle, the policy pursued in the Chechen republic, I will probably manage to
continue this policy in the republic.
In this connection, as I have already said, I turned to Vladimir Anatolyevich [Yakovlev] and I would like to let you
know my stand on the issue and take part in the presidential election.
[Putin] Alu Dadashevich, I understand - and I discussed this with Vladimir Anatolyevich earlier - that under the law
you will have to go on leave after you have taken this decision. And, naturally, I would like to know how we are going
to decide on who will lead the republic's Internal Affairs Ministry while you are on leave. Do you have any ideas
or any suggestions as regards this issue?
[Alkhanov] I think that, in any case, public security in the republic, particularly during the preparations and the
holding of the election, is quite an important factor, and I believe that one of my deputies will have to be charged
with the task of performing the duties of the interior minister of the Chechen republic. I think I would then make a
decision as regards my deputy and report to you and to the interior minister [of Russia] on a specific candidate. I
should say, however, that I have deputies who can be entrusted with performing this task and who will cope with the task
in a worthy manner.
[Putin] Who is that? What's their name?
[Alkhanov] I believe that Ruslan Shakhayevich Alkhanov, former OMON [special police force] unit commander and
currently my deputy in charge of the city of Groznyy, can perform these duties today. And I think that charging this
officer with these duties would be a correct move and [words indistinct].
[Putin] When the minister comes back, have a talk with him, and we will then take a final decision.
Alu Dadashevich, there is one more issue. You mentioned a proposal made by representatives of various regions in the
Chechen republic. We have many times discussed issues related to the development and restoration of Chechnya. In the
capacity of Chechen internal affairs minister, you managed to organize the necessary work to restore law and order and,
at the same time, you were able to treat people with care. In this connection - we discussed it with you earlier - it is
necessary to establish public control, not control exercised by the law-enforcement agencies, over the reconstruction of
the Chechen republic, bearing in mind that the state should allocate large resources for that purpose.
We also discussed the need to establish public control over the distribution of funds which the federal centre
allocates as compensation for lost housing. Despite the fact that you will have to go on leave because of the election
campaign, I nevertheless ask you to continue performing this task and working towards that end. As a matter of fact,
this work should be done on a large scale, and effective civil structures should be set up to control the funds, so that
people's rights are reliably protected, not only in the sphere of law enforcement but in the financial and social
spheres as well.
[Alkhanov] Vladimir Vladimirovich, this is a very topical issue for the people of the republic. Therefore, taking
into account your proposal, we have started some work towards that end. The committee for compensation payments has been
reshuffled. Issues dealing with public control are also being resolved, and you have quite correctly noted that money
should reach the people who really lost their homes and who really need that money. Therefore, despite the fact that I
will be on leave, public and state control in this sphere will be stepped up, and I am sure that the money will reach
those who are really entitled to it.
[RTR Russia TV] |
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