13 August 2003, 15:47
Chechnya is prepared for presidential election scheduled for October, authorities claim
14 people expressed their intention to be candidates; they have to have registered as candidates by August 22. The Election Commission of Chechnya invited observers from the OSCE, the PACE, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Arab League, and other international organizations.
Russian human rights activists believe that an election in wartime is illegal by definition; they intend to send their own observers to the republic. As Moscow Helsinki Group Chairwoman Lyudmila Alekseyeva announced at the press-conference in Moscow, the election campaign goes with breaches, in particular, there is an overt agitation for Akhmad Kadirov.
Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty