Analysts explain absence election campaigning in Chechnya

The outcome of direct election for the head of Chechnya is defined; and election campaigning in the republic is senseless, Magomed Khamidov, a political analyst, and Ruslan Kutaev, President of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations, believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 10, Ramzan Kadyrov was registered as a candidate for the post of head of Chechnya from the "Edinaya Rossia" (United Russia) Party. Kadyrov's rivals are Khalid Nakaev, a nominee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), and Isa Khadjimuradov from the "Spravedlivaya Rossia (Fair Russia)-Patriots-For Truth" Party. Both candidates are purely technical; any rivalry in the race for the post is out of question, the experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have noted.

There is no candidates' campaigning on Chechen TV, Mr Kutaev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"There will be no campaigning and no pre-election debates – nothing. Because there is no need for this; both Chechen and Russian authorities have long crossed the line while trying to create an impression that there was a choice. If earlier they said: 'Here, come and vote,' [now,] I am sure they will say nothing to nobody. If people fail to come [to the polls at all], no matter. They will draw up what they want and give it away. And who will protest against this, who will say a word against it? Nobody," Mr Kutaev has concluded.

Magomed Khamidov, a Chechen political analyst, also believes that Kadyrov needs no election campaigning. "Everything has already been decided; everyone knows everything. What kind of campaigning can there be? Everyone understands that Kadyrov is the only candidate," Mr Khamidov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 21, 2021 at 04:24 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.