Chechen Election: a sham!

[AnarchistPatriot]

http://breaking.tcm.ie/2004/08/30/story164224.html

Chechnya’s president-elect pledged to bring peace and stability to his war-torn southern Russian region today after the Kremlin-backed candidate was elected in a vote tainted by allegations of fraud and overshadowed by fears of terrorism.

Alu Alkhanov, whom election officials said received 74% of Sunday’s vote, also vowed to crack down on corruption that has undermined Moscow’s efforts to restore civil society to a dysfunctional republic ravaged by a decade of fighting and chaos.

Fraud allegations marred the balloting. A representative of candidate Movsur Khamidov said he found ballot boxes at one polling place stuffed shortly after it opened. Abdullah Bugayev, another candidate, said he witnessed an Alkhanov campaign worker ordering people to vote for him at a polling station.

Chechen election commission chairman Abdul-Kerim Arsakhanov said there were no violations and that turnout was about 85%, even though voters appeared sparse at many polling stations.

Several voters in the capital Grozny – where blocks of apartment buildings stand gutted from earlier fighting and where few pedestrians were seen on Sunday - were openly sceptical of the results.

The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights and its Russian affiliate said that “minimum international standards for holding free and fair elections do not exist in Chechnya” and that Russian electoral authorities kept competitors out to ensure Alkhanov’s victory.

The group’s director, Aaron Rhodes, said that ”manipulating democracy to produce a predetermined outcome is neither fair nor a solution” to Chechnya’s problems, according to a statement. Officials in the Moscow-backed Chechen government barred Alkhanov’s only serious challenger from running in the election.

The Kremlin is seeking undermine support for separatist rebels who have been fighting Russian forces for nearly five years by holding elections and inducing a sense of civil order.

[Balamut]

i always liked that phrase: "Moscow-backed Chechen government"
What else could it be? Chechnya is a part of Russia.

[Tugay-bey]

Originally posted by Balamut
i always liked that phrase: "Moscow-backed Chechen government"
What else could it be? Chechnya is a part of Russia.

Yea,a part,that doesn't whant to be Russia no more!What else could it be? How's about a goverment,that Chechens whant? You know,the actual people,that live there? Not colonel Puckin.Not Moskow.Not Kremlin. You see,Balamut,here in the US,we actually elect our OWN state governers.We don't give a rat's tail if the President,White House,Washington or the God Almighty backs our choice.We whant him-we'll get him.
Of course,I understand,you,being a Russian,living in Latvia,don't want to even try to comprehand basic principles of democracy,but that's how it works in the Free World,Balamut.As oppose to,say,Soudi Arabia,North Korea,Russia.

[Balamut]

Yeah,They want.. I want also.
Their credibility and our respect to "them" was exhausted in 1999. Now it matters what I want. If the power they understand only, so be it. Mne tak zhit spokoinee.

Do You want us to give "them" the second chance?
Well.. NO. Another mistake may cost waaay too much.

[Balamut]

And please, don't say about US elections and american democracy, cause it's funny. Like russkies in fur hats drinking vodka with bears on the red square in holywood movies.

[Tugay-bey]

Originally posted by Balamut
Yeah,They want.. I want also.
Their credibility and our respect to "them" was exhausted in 1999. Now it matters what I want. If the power they understand only, so be it. Mne tak zhit spokoinee.

Do You want us to give "them" the second chance?
Well.. NO. Another mistake may cost waaay too much.

That's funny.It really doesn't matter,what you want in this case.You ain't even a Russian citiesen,Balamut.You live in Latvia.And if the force is the only thing,that keeps Russian Federation together,than "them" are all the Russians.So,it doesn't matter what Russian people want,only Kremlin's wishies are relevant?
So,why would colonel Puckin even bother to go through all those trouble to make this sham looking like an election?
About the US elections and democracy...What the hell would you really know about it? You read something in Kremlin's "newspaper"? Wow,that would be a really respectible sourse of info!

[Balamut]

No. I see only two, almost similar parties.
Good democratic dictatorship.

Kremlin newspaper? You forgot where I live

Why it must look like real election? It's politics.

I have relatives in Russia and I'm with my soul with Russia, that's why it affects me even here.

No I did not say the power hold Russia together. Just we need to use it in chechnya for our own good. To not have one more 1999.