General elections in Chechnya to be held in October or November

The parliamentary elections in the Chechen Republic will be held in October or November 2004, Chairman of the Chechen State Council Husein Isayev reported on Tuesday.

In compliance with the present provisions of the Chechen Constitution, parliamentary functions are now exercised by the State Council, made up of the heads of cities and districts as well as of one representative from citizens of each administrative and territorial entity.

According to Mr. Isayev, the Russian president issues a decree, setting parliamentary elections in Chechnya. They are to be held no earlier than three months after the elections of the republican president, whose elections were held on October 5, 2003.

The new Chechen parliament will consist of two chambers: the Council of the Republic and the National Assembly; each will have 61 deputies. The Council of the Republic will fix following parliamentary elections.