100% support for Medvedev
2008-03-02 19:42
Grozny - The leader of the
war-torn Russian republic of Chechnya promised in advance that
his region would return 100% support for Vladimir Putin's
chosen successor in Sunday's presidential election.
The Kremlin's candidate, 42-year-old Dmitry Medvedev, is
almost certain to triumph in the poll, which has been criticised
by the opposition for a lack of real competition.
Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, a Kremlin-backed former
rebel chief, made - and kept - a similar promise of total
support for the ruling party before nationwide parliamentary
elections in December.
"It's no secret that I voted for Dmitry Anatolyevich
Medvedev, because he is worthy of succeeding Putin," Kadyrov
told Reuters on Sunday.
"I believe there will be a 100% turnout today. My
family and all the people of the Chechen republic will vote for
him," he said, before dancing in front of a crowd of onlookers.
Official results from December's parliamentary election
showed that Chechnya, which fought two wars with Russia,
returned a 99.5% turnout and 99.3% support for
Putin's party - the highest vote for Putin anywhere in Russia.
Local people and opposition groups questioned the figures at
the time, saying that many residents had not voted at all. The
government denied this.
Russia sent troops to Chechnya in 1994 and again in 1999 to
put down separatist rebellions. In the last few years, Moscow
has poured millions of dollars into rebuilding the war-scarred
province.
- Reuters