22:58, 21 February 2007

Kadyrov's rivals are thought to be outsiders in Chechnya

Three candidates have been nominated to the post of Chechnya's president: Ramzan Kadyrov, temporary acting president of the Republic; Muslim Khuchiev, first deputy head of the office of the president and government of the Republic; and Shakhid Dzhamaldaev, head of the administration of the Groznenskiy District.

After consultations in Grozny, Dmitri Kozak, plenipotentiary representative of Russian president for the South Federal District (SFD), is going to present the nominees to consideration of Vladimir Putin.

Residents of Chechnya are rather sceptical to Dmitri Kozak's consultations held today in Grozny with representatives of parties and public movements on the issue of nominating candidates to the post of the Republic's president. Many of them think that the issue has been decided on long ago.

"The fact that medium-rank bureaucrats Muslim Khuchiev and Shakhid Dzhamaldaev were appointed "to compete" Ramzan Kadyrov indicates that the Kremlin has already made its principle choice. I have no doubts that Ramzan Kadyrov will become a new head of Chechnya," a local human rights activist has told the "Caucasian Knot."

Author: Sultan Abubakarov, CK correspondent