14:22, 18 August 2003

Kadirov's supporters collect favorable signatures using ?administrative sources?

Supporters of Akhmad Kadirov are collecting signatures via ?administrative sources? to support his becoming a presidential contender, stated Tamara Kalayeva, an independent human rights defender.

Kalayeva said she has evidence that local officials of the town of Argun were compiling lists of signatures that favored Kadirov by using citizens' personal data available to them. ?They copied names and other data from trade licenses,? she stated, adding that one signature cost 10 rubles.

On August 14, Kadirov?s supporters used the same method to get documents of women working at the central market of Grozny. ?Kadirov`s security service seized our passports and then compiled lists using our personal statistics,? said Zulfiya Zaurbekova.

Kalayeva says this is happening throughout Chechnya. ?It?s not always possible to catch them red-handed,? - said she.

According to the Chechen Election Commission, at least 12,000 signatures must be obtained in order to register a presidential candidate.

Author: Timur Aliyev, CK correspondent

Source: Prague Watchdog