CNN - Chechnya's voter turnout in dispute

Chechnya's voter turnout in dispute

June 16, 1996
Web posted at: 1:00 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT)

From Correspondent Brent Sadler

GROZNY, Russia (CNN) -- The leader of the pro-Russian government in Chechnya predicted Sunday that voter turnout in the rebellious republic's twin elections would cross the 50 percent hurdle needed for the vote to count.

But the confidence expressed by Doku Zavgayev did not apply to Starya Itagi, a pro-independence village a few miles south of Grozny, Chechnya's capital. It appeared that most, if not all, of Starya Itagi's 18,000 residents were boycotting the election.

"No one is voting," one villager told CNN. "It's a sham. They're trying to deceive people."

A rebel flag flew above the village entrance where young men stood guard. Russian forces made no attempt to interfere.

Just a few hours before Zavgayev's claim, the deputy head of Chechnya's election commission said only 19.4 percent of the electorate had voted Friday and Saturday. Sunday was the third and final day for the people of Chechnya, on Russia's southern rim, to select a new parliament for the Caucasus region.

A separate vote for Russia's next president was being held on Sunday only. Russian law says an election is only valid if more than 50 percent of the registered voters participate.

Some polls close early

Russian troops in Grozny came under fire overnight in some of the heaviest fighting in two weeks, but calm later returned. Russia's Interfax news agency, quoting Russian military commanders, said five soldiers were injured in a separatist attack in Grozny.

Several voting locations came under fire, and Chechen officials closed some polling stations early on Sunday, saying staff had been threatened and attacked.

Chechen rebels, who had no objection to Russia's presidential election, had warned of renewed guerrilla attacks if the Moscow-backed government went ahead with the parliamentary elections.

"The rebels are afraid of democracy," said Ruslan Tskaev, one of Grozny's security chiefs. "They are making terrorist attacks to scare people. But the elections are still taking place."

The atmosphere in Grozny was tense. Voting stations were well guarded and road blocks restricted vehicular access.

Voter wants peace

Grozny resident Dina Dugeeva braved the intimidating surroundings to cast her vote, indicating she was fed up with 18 months of war.

"I hope we finally find some people with sense, both here and in Moscow -- someone who will stop all this evil."

The war has killed more than 30,000 people, mostly civilians, since Russian President Boris Yeltsin sent in troops in December 1994 to crush Chechnya's bid for independence.

An agreement signed last Monday by Russian officials and rebel leaders calls for Russian troops to withdraw and for rebels to disarm by August 30.

The rebels, who say a free election is impossible with Russian troops in Chechnya, signed only after they were assured that local elections would be postponed. But Zavgayev said he was determined to press ahead, and Yeltsin declined to interfere.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Pivotal Elections: Russia

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Chechnya's voter turnout in dispute

Some polls close early

Voter wants peace

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