Interfax news agency quoted a ''senior source in the Kremlin'' as confirming that Putin was ''shortly expected to sign a decree'' appointing Aslakhanov presidential aide ''to deal with problems in the south of Russia''. Aslakhanov, whose influence and popularity in Chechnya is undisputable, and whom most opinion polls put ahead of incumbent Akhmad Kadyrov in the Chechen presidential race, announced his withdrawal on Thursday.
At the same time, Aslakhanov admitted that the decision to pull out of the election was not an easy one for him. ''After pondering over it for a long time and conferring with my staff, I have taken a very difficult decision, not to take part in the election,'' Aslakhanov told journalists.
Aslakhanov’s withdrawal clears the way for Akhmad Kadyrov, the former rebel turned pro-Moscow Chechen leader. Kadyrov’s rating in the republic is extremely low; however, he seems confident of victory.
Aslakhanov has won acclaim and respect from his fellow countrymen for his harsh criticism of the war in Chechnya. The State Duma deputy was one of the last to apply for official registration as a candidate in the republican election commission. Like some of his potential rivals he decided not to collect voters’ signatures, but instead made a financial deposit.
He is the second hopeful to pull out from the race in less than a week. Earlier this month Moscow-based entrepreneur Hussein Dzhabrailov announced his withdrawal from the election. The deputy director general of the Rossia Hotel was officially registered as a candidate for the presidential post in Chechnya on August 27, upon making a financial deposit of 4.5 million roubles.
Though his campaigning was barely noticeable, like Aslakhanov, he is well known in the republic. The well-to-do Chechen has won the confidence of his fellow countrymen for his generosity: Dzhabrailov was considered the third most popular presidential candidate in the republic after Aslakhanov and another Moscow-based businessman Malik Saidullayev, leaving the incumbent leader of the republic far behind in the polls.
Some observers suggested Dzhabrailov had been asked to pull out by the Kremlin, which after much hesitation has finally decided to throw its support behind Akhmad Kadyrov. Dzhabrailov’s aides refuted the assumption. Many believe that the candidate may also have been pressured to leave by Akhmad Kadyrov. ''The present election campaign is being held in extremely difficult conditions. Every day in my homeland people get killed and go missing; explosions and murder attempts occur,'' Dzhabrailov said in his official statement.
The withdrawal of Hussein Dzhabrailov and, subsequently, of Aslanbek Aslakhanov has left 9 candidates in the field. They are: the incumbent leader of Chechnya, Moscow-appointed Akhmad Kadyrov; Moscow-based entrepreneur Malik Saidullayev; professor of the Grozny University Avkhad Khachukayev; deputy military commandant of Chechnya Said-Selim Tsuyev; deputy director general of a local oil and gas company Kudus Saduyev; former head of the Achkhoi-Martan district administration Shamil Burayev, who was sacked recently by Akhmad Kadyrov; Chechen poet Nikolai Paizullayev; unemployed Abdulla Bugayev, and former vice-premier of Ichkeria Hussein Biibulatov, currently an advisor for the head of the nuclear safety centre near Moscow.
Aslakhanov’s decision to quit the race leaves the incumbent Kadyrov with only one serious rival, the entrepreneur Malik Saidullayev, whose chances of winning the Chechen presidency no longer seem realistic, given the Kremlin’s obvious support for Kadyrov and the strong regiment of well-armed militias the incumbent has at his disposal.
Last week Akhmad Kadyrov sacked Bislan Gantamirov, his old opponent, from the post of republican media minister after Gantamirov refused to back the incumbent in the forthcoming election. Gantamirov has led the campaign to unseat Kadyrov, pledging not to allow the incumbent to use local media to his advantage in the election campaign. The Kremlin did not interfere in the row. Control over the Chechen media was transferred to Kadyrov’s aide Taus Dzhabrailov.
11 СЕНТЯБРЯ 16:42
