23:33, 7 October 2003

Independent observers and representatives of other Chechen presidential contenders allege elections were falsified

The Chechen presidential elections of October 5 were held with much success, as the authorities assert.

According to reports of the Russian media, over 80% of the population of Chechnya took part in the voting and they voted for Akhmad Kadyrov practically unanimously.

Such an outcome of the events was forecasted virtually by all observers, but it is the republican residents' opinion that the declared figures on the people who took part in the elections and voted for actually the only possible candidate are too high.

Independent observers and representatives of other Chechen presidential contenders allege there were no "voters' high activity" and the results of the voting were falsified. According to some data, there were polling stations in Grozny which were visited only by several people in the whole day.

Source: Infromation Center of the Council of NGOs