Chechen Interior Ministry assigns 16,000 policemen to provide security for president election

The Chechen Interior Ministry will assign 16,000 policemen to provide security for the president election on October 5, a ministry source announced on Tuesday.

Some 425 polling stations have been taken under round-the-clock protection, he noted. "It is planned to reinforce street patrols and assign extra mobile police units to roads and settlements," the source said.

"The precautions will help to prevent provocations by rebels on election day," he said.

Chechen Interior Ministry press secretary Ruslan Atsayev reported earlier that tight limits on movement by trucks have been introduced in Chechnya, and will be in effect until October 6. Trucks are banned from the roads of Grozny and other Chechen townships.

There are no limits on passenger buses, shuttle taxis and cars, Atsayev noted.

The limits on truck traffic aim to prevent terrorist acts and sabotage by rebels during the election period, Atsayev said.

Russian Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov said in mid-September that they knew about rebel plans to launch terrorist acts during the Chechen presidential election campaign.

"We understand that forces which oppose the peace process will try to destabilize the situation before the election. The rebels have concrete plans for terrorist acts during that period," Gryzlov said.

Police have the experience of the constitution referendum in Chechnya on March 23, the minister noted. No attacks by rebels were allowed at that time. "I hope we will provide the same level of security during the election," Gryzlov said.