11:38, 16 June 2004

Chechen interior minister to run for president

Chechen Interior Minister Alu Alkhanov announced yesterday that he would be a participant in the republican presidential race. He made this announcement while meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. Mr Alkhanov made it clear that if he was elected president, he would follow the policy of the late Chechen president, Akhmat Kadyrov.

Alu Alkhanov said: "Representatives of very different sections of society, residents of the republic have turned to me with a request, with an appeal to run for the Chechen presidency. I think it is evidence that people want the line of the federal center and the line of Akhmad Hajji Kadyrov to be continued. It is a line of further stabilization in the republic."

Alu Alkhanov requested to appoint his deputy and namesake Ruslan Alkhanov Acting Chechen Interior Minister for the period of the election campaign.

Source: NTV TV Company