13:54, 8 October 2003

Sulumbek Maigov: "Presidential elections will have no effect on the situation in Chechnya"

Former special representative of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria President Aslan Maskhadov in Russia, one of 12 present candidates nominating to be Russian State Duma deputies Sulumbek Maigov makes a very pessimistic evaluation of possible outlooks for war cessation and peace establishment in Chechnya. In his opinion, the presidential elections that were held in Chechnya on October 5 "will have no effect on the situation in the republic". Maigov announced it in his interview to the "Caucasus Times" website on Tuesday.

"The Kremlin's political will is needed to change something in the Chechen Republic, Maigov says. And I do not see that Moscow takes real steps to the political settlement of the conflict." In Sulumbek Maigov's opinion, there is no ground to speak about a radical turn in the situation in Chechnya and the arrangement of peaceful life while peace talks between the belligerents are not started.

Source: Caucasus Times Website