RUSSIA/CHECHNYA: LEADING CANDIDATES RACE TO BE NEXT PRESIDENT скачать в хорошем качестве

RUSSIA/CHECHNYA: LEADING CANDIDATES RACE TO BE NEXT PRESIDENT

(25 Jan 1997) Russian/Eng/Nat With two days before Chechnya's election on Monday, a trio of men are in the race to be the next Chechen president. Right now it's a neck in neck race between Aslan Maskhadov and Shamil Basayev, with the incumbent president trailing behind. This is the first election since peace was negotiated with Russia that ended a bloody war in the breakaway republic. One of Chechnya's leading candidates, Aslan Maskhadov, started Friday in his home village of Pervomaisk. Children cheered and yelled out the Islamic greeting "Alahu Akbar" (Allah is Great) as the former military leader arrived at this small village not far from Grozny. With the period of Ramadan now in its third week, Islam is a factor that no candidate can ignore. Maskhadov met village elders outside the mosque and discussed his presidential platform with them. The Chechen leader is not just a politician, but also a national hero. He led the breakaway region's separatist fighters to victory in their battle with Russia for independence. Chechens remember Maskhadov as the man who brought an end to the bloody and bitter war that left some 80-thousand dead and nearly half the population homeless. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "All these talks from Russia that they will just close the doors on us and we will just fade away and nothing will ever come of Chechnya is not the truth. Everything will be fine here if Russia will just leave us alone." SUPER CAPTION: Aslan Maskhadov, Chechen presidential candidate and former military chief of staff In August he signed an agreement with Russia's Alexander Lebed which stopped the fighting and guaranteed a Russian troop withdrawal from Chechen territory. Many believe Maskhadov is the only candidate that can guarantee peace with Russia. Although he supports Chechnya's drive for independence -- as do all five leading candidates -- Russian politicians hope he will not press the independence issue immediately. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "Maskhadov will not press the problem of recognising independence of Chechnya immediately. So he is the best person both for Russia and for Chechnya. His rating in Chechen society is extremely high." SUPER CAPTION: Alexander Iskandarian, expert on Chechen affairs Because of his role as conciliator, many believe that Maskhadov is the only Chechen candidate that can bring lasting peace with Russia. Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev is running neck and neck with Maskhadov. No reliable polls have been taken but the feeling in Chechnya is that the race is between these two men. Basayev was the most popular field commander during the war with Russia. In the mountain village of Saryasan, about 130 km from Grozny, nearly everyone plans to vote for him. Basayev is also a national hero with Chechens viewing him as one of their bravest fighters. And he is a religious man. Before afternoon prayers Basayev washes his hands, face and feet. If elected he intends to enforce the strict Islamic law of Sharia. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "Everything will be OK. Whatever relationship Russia wants to have with us, is what it will be -- if they want peace then there will be peace -- if they want war then there will be war. It's all up to the Russians." SUPER CAPTION: : Shamil Basayev, Presidential candidate Despite the fact that Basayev is only 32 years old, the village elders allow him to pray with them -- a sign of respect and trust. But Russia has no respect for the rebel hero. Basayev is known in Russia and in the West as a terrorist following his 1995 raid on the Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...