Candidate for the State Duma from Chechnya Akhmar Zavgayev: "My election program coincides with Akhmad Kadyrov's program by 90 per cent"

Akhmar Zavgayev, a candidate for the State Duma from Chechnya, gave an interview to our own correspondent.

- How do you estimate your odds for success?

- A political situation in the Chechen Republic has noticeably changed lately: a referendum was conducted, a presidential election was held. Now it is essential to join the efforts of the Chechen leadership and Chechen representatives in the federal government bodies. They must be associates. Being a Federation Council Member for three years, I've been constantly contacting Akhmad Kadyrov. We have worked out a common strategy to solve global and present-day problems of Chechnya. We will be a single team - it is the only way leading Chechnya out of the crisis. I expect our voters realize the situation, and so I consider my odds to be high.

- Who do you consider to be your principal rival?

- I pay respect to each candidate nominating for the elections, but I think my odds are higher then those of the others.

- Why did you decide to run for the elections?

- I did it because my heart bleeds for the people and for their future.

- Will the elections be fair?

- Yes, they will, I suppose. Each candidate will have observers at the polling stations. The elections must be fair.

- Is the administrative resource of authorities used by any candidate?

- From the very beginning I have objected to using the so called administrative resource. I am against any breach of the laws on the elections. I don't think I need any additional resource. People know me; they will make a right choice.

- Do you give confidence to the Chechen Election Commission?

- Yes, I certainly do.

- What is your attitude to the presidential election held in Chechnya? Was it fair and democratic?

- Both the election of the Chechen President and the referendum conducted were important historic events in the life of the Chechen people. Chechnya stepped to the legal space of Russia. The man who was elected President knows about the misfortunes of his people not by hearsay and he will follow their interests.

- What status should Chechnya have?

- In my view, it would be more correct not to take up the status of the Chechen Republic for some period, until the economy and social sphere of the republic is restored. It is necessary to strive for economic privileges, for instance, in the field of taxation and so on.

- What is your attitude to the privatization in Chechnya?

- It is a very difficult question. The mentality of the Chechens, as well as the fact that we have fallen out of the economic space of Russia for the last years, should be taken into account. The very process of privatization was well-grounded in the period of market relations, but it must be carried out in Chechnya very carefully so that common people in the republic do not suffer.

- Who should take charge of the republican natural resources?

- My election program coincides with Akhmad Kadyrov's program by 90 per cent. And I hold, just as the President of Chechnya does, that the entire wealth of this republic belongs to its people, which is fixed by the adopted constitution.

- The adoption of what law are you going to press on first of all?

- I'd rather not overemphasize any single law. We need a number of laws on the republican level. It is also important to adopt amendments and supplements to federal laws. I am also greatly concerned about the law on the amnesty. The matter is that the limits of its effect are too confined, and it prevents from making decisions members of illegal armed units who take up arms as the circumstances willed.

- To what extent is Russia's political leadership responsible for the Chechen tragedy, in you view?

- I think, we all: both western "masters" of political technologies and our leaders are guilty of what have happened in Chechnya, as well as of what is happening in Iraq and other hot spots. Dudayevs, Maskhadovs have plunged our people into a legal jumble, and they will be given the people's appraisal.

- Is there still a need for political negotiations with Aslan Maskhadov?

- The referendum answered this question. The people voted for living in Russia, for peace and consent. In such a context, the question of negations with Maskhadov ceases to have significance.