Chechnya Russia Elections

Shivering in their half-ruined towns and villages, still without running water, phones or jobs after two years of war with Russia, the people of the separatist republic of Chechnya are bewildered by the election posters plastered on the least-damaged walls. All 16 candidates in the race for a postwar Chechen president, to be elected Jan.

Now that he has officially won elections that Russia has grudgingly accepted, Aslan Maskhadov, separatist Chechnya's president-elect, wants to build a state that Moscow may not welcome but with which it can probably live, he said Wednesday. "Maskhadov is not a fan of tough decisions or abrupt actions," his spokesman, Mayerbek Vachagayev, said as Maskhadov's 64.8% vote of support was being made official. "There will be no revolutionary decrees, but an evolutionary course of development."

Chechnya's pro-Moscow government refused Wednesday to postpone elections for the local parliament, defying a key accord in peace talks for the secessionist republic. Delaying Sunday's elections--scheduled the same day as Russia's presidential vote--was a primary separatist demand. Rebel and Kremlin negotiators Monday issued what they called a "recommendation" that the ballot be postponed until fall.

Aslan Maskhadov, the military commander who helped bring peace to separatist Chechnya, proclaimed himself the new president of the southern republic Tuesday on the basis of leaked, partial election results. Surrounded by armed guards and solemn advisors in fur hats, Maskhadov--the Chechen candidate whom Moscow preferred--swept into a postelection meeting with journalists and listened impassively as his spokesman announced his victory. "Today we start the first press conference with Mr.

The last Russian soldiers left the rebel republic of Chechnya on Sunday, ending a humiliating military involvement that began more than two years ago. The pullout, part of last year's peace agreement between Moscow and Chechen separatists, clears the way for general elections in Chechnya on Jan. 27. The Russian ministries of interior and defense, which together had more than 30,000 troops in the southern republic, said Sunday that the pullout is complete.

Now that he has officially won elections that Russia has grudgingly accepted, Aslan Maskhadov, separatist Chechnya's president-elect, wants to build a state that Moscow may not welcome but with which it can probably live, he said Wednesday. "Maskhadov is not a fan of tough decisions or abrupt actions," his spokesman, Mayerbek Vachagayev, said as Maskhadov's 64.8% vote of support was being made official. "There will be no revolutionary decrees, but an evolutionary course of development."

Elections that were supposed to confirm peace in the separatist region of Chechnya--after almost two years of war with Russia's army--are turning into a violent free-for-all of mysterious kidnappings, vicious political mud-slinging and threats of further armed conflict. Ruslan S.

Rebels seized key buildings in Chechnya's second-largest city Thursday and fought advancing Russian armored troops on the first day of elections to replace the republic's secessionist government. As many as 600 rebels were engaged in a fierce battle with federal troops in and around Gudermes, 20 miles east of the Chechen capital, Grozny, Russian officials said. Helicopter gunships and artillery hit rebel positions on the outskirts of Gudermes in some of the worst fighting in Chechnya in months.

Sensing freedom after two centuries of rule by Moscow, Chechens flocked to the polls Monday to vote in elections that they hope will confirm the end of the war that Russia waged against their separatist leaders for almost two years and that would bring independence one step closer. Donning their best but threadbare clothes, the people of this tiny Muslim region turned their day of decision-making into a party.

Aslan Maskhadov, the military commander who helped bring peace to separatist Chechnya, proclaimed himself the new president of the southern republic Tuesday on the basis of leaked, partial election results. Surrounded by armed guards and solemn advisors in fur hats, Maskhadov--the Chechen candidate whom Moscow preferred--swept into a postelection meeting with journalists and listened impassively as his spokesman announced his victory. "Today we start the first press conference with Mr.

Sensing freedom after two centuries of rule by Moscow, Chechens flocked to the polls Monday to vote in elections that they hope will confirm the end of the war that Russia waged against their separatist leaders for almost two years and that would bring independence one step closer. Donning their best but threadbare clothes, the people of this tiny Muslim region turned their day of decision-making into a party.

Elections that were supposed to confirm peace in the separatist region of Chechnya--after almost two years of war with Russia's army--are turning into a violent free-for-all of mysterious kidnappings, vicious political mud-slinging and threats of further armed conflict. Ruslan S.

Shivering in their half-ruined towns and villages, still without running water, phones or jobs after two years of war with Russia, the people of the separatist republic of Chechnya are bewildered by the election posters plastered on the least-damaged walls. All 16 candidates in the race for a postwar Chechen president, to be elected Jan.

The last Russian soldiers left the rebel republic of Chechnya on Sunday, ending a humiliating military involvement that began more than two years ago. The pullout, part of last year's peace agreement between Moscow and Chechen separatists, clears the way for general elections in Chechnya on Jan. 27. The Russian ministries of interior and defense, which together had more than 30,000 troops in the southern republic, said Sunday that the pullout is complete.

Chechnya's pro-Moscow government refused Wednesday to postpone elections for the local parliament, defying a key accord in peace talks for the secessionist republic. Delaying Sunday's elections--scheduled the same day as Russia's presidential vote--was a primary separatist demand. Rebel and Kremlin negotiators Monday issued what they called a "recommendation" that the ballot be postponed until fall.

Rebels seized key buildings in Chechnya's second-largest city Thursday and fought advancing Russian armored troops on the first day of elections to replace the republic's secessionist government. As many as 600 rebels were engaged in a fierce battle with federal troops in and around Gudermes, 20 miles east of the Chechen capital, Grozny, Russian officials said. Helicopter gunships and artillery hit rebel positions on the outskirts of Gudermes in some of the worst fighting in Chechnya in months.