RUSSIA: ELECTION OFFICIALS MAKE FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR VOTING BY CHECHEN WAR REFUGEES IN FEDERAL PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS

Record ID: 451002

  • Title: RUSSIA: ELECTION OFFICIALS MAKE FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR VOTING BY CHECHEN WAR REFUGEES IN FEDERAL PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS
  • Date: 21st December 1999
  • Summary: KARABULAK REFUGEE CAMP, INGUSHETIA, RUSSIA (DECEMBER 18, 1999) (REUTERS) 1. SLV TENTS IN REFUGEE CAMP/ SLV/MV /SCU CHECHEN WAR REFUGEES REGISTERING FOR VOTE (6 SHOTS) 0.41 2. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CHECHEN WAR REFUGEE WOMAN SAYING "Russia should give us a chance to vote. It's our right. If they've launched a war to protect the constitution then we must vote according to this." 0.55 3. SLV REFUGEE CAMP AND TENTS/ SLV POLLING STATION/SCU BALLOT BOXES/ELECTION WORKERS PREPARING BALLOT PAPERS /EXTERIOR POLLING STATION WITH SIGN ON WALL (13 SHOTS) 2.19 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KAZBEK KOSTOYEV, CHAIRMAN FOR INGUSHETIAN REPUBLIC ELECTION COMMISSION, SAYING "The decision is to give them [Chechen war refugees] a chance to vote. Any polling station will have a special table where refugess can vote." 3.02 5. SCU PEOPLE IN POLLING STATION USING COMPUTER (3 SHOTS) 3.19 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 5th January 2000 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KARABULAK REFUGEE CAMP, INGUSHETIA; RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Reuters ID: LVACZZ7M7PS4SB4FDNFZGU0WLEAB
  • Story Text: Russian election officials have made final preparations
    for voting by Chechen war refugees in Sunday's federal
    parliament elections.

    About 200,000 Chechen war refugees will have the chance
    to participate in Russia's parliament elections on Sunday
    (December 19).

    In many respects, the refugees are the main theme of the
    elections.

    The Kremlin and its parliament allies had little popularity
    in Russia, but Moscow's three-month military crackdown in the
    breakaway region of Chechnya has won support across the nation
    and boosted the ratings of pro-Kremlin parties.

    Moscow says that its actions are supported by the majority
    of Chechen citizens.The refugees' vote will, in part, be a
    referendum on Chechen support.

    One woman refugee said that the federal government was
    obligated to give them the vote because of the war.

    Local election authorities have set up special tables for
    refugee votes at each polling station.

    The refugee vote will be a small percentage of the national
    total.But, in many respects, their vote will be one of the
    most decisive mandates on Russia's military campaign.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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