Battered by a decade of war and chaos, residents of Chechnya vote today for a president in what the Kremlin bills as a significant step toward stability in their tormented republic -- but that even the likely winner says won't bring peace for years.
The voting comes four years after Russian forces returned to Chechnya, storming in with a massive air and ground assault that brought the northern flatlands under control quickly, but then stalled in the southern mountains. For most of the last four years, the conflict has been a bloody stalemate in which the Russians pound Chechen rebels with heavy weaponry and the insurgents draw blood daily with ambushes, explosives and hit-and-run attacks.
Faced with widespread criticism for holding a vote during wartime, Russia yesterday defended the election's transparency, saying officials had invited a range of international organizations but many had refused to send observers.
Both the Council of Europe or the Organization for Security and Cooperation Europe declined to send observers because of security concerns.
"It is absolutely clear that regardless of their decision, the Chechen elections will proceed in a free, democratic atmosphere," Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said, according to the Interfax news agency.
The presidential balloting follows a March referendum in which Chechens approved a constitution that confirms the republic's status as a part of Russia. The Russian parliament has discussed offering Chechnya substantial autonomy, but no clear terms have been stated.
The election was aimed at persuading Chechens that they could have a degree of independence while remaining part of Russia. But that sense likely was severely undermined by the departure of the two candidates that polls showed were the top contenders. Aslambek Aslakhanov, who represents Chechnya in the national parliament dropped out to become an adviser to President Vladimir Putin, and Malik Saidullayev's candidacy was invalidated the same day by the Chechen Supreme Court.
Those moves raised wide speculation that the Kremlin was determined to ensure the victory of Akhmad Kadyrov, appointed in 2000 as the Kremlin's top civilian in Chechnya. He faces six other little-known candidates and is widely expected to win.
But a Kadyrov victory could provoke further resentment in Chechnya.
Once allied with the rebels, Kadyrov is regarded by many as a turncoat, and his personal security force, run by his son Ramzan, is widely feared.
The force, reportedly numbering in the thousands, allegedly kills, tortures and kidnaps with impunity.
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