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We representatives of public organizations in the Chechen Republic
are announcing our refusal to participate in a presidential election
scheduled for 5 October in the Chechen Republic.
29.08.2003
Above all, we refuse because the war is still going on in Chechnya.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed and thousands more
are "missing," and those murders and "disappearances"
are still going on. The misfortunes the residents of Chechnya have
suffered in recent years are comparable to World War II and to Stalin's
"Great Terror." We recall the elections held in an atmosphere
of terror in the Soviet Union, in 1937. The government that was
elected at that time proceeded to destroy its own people, and seven
years later it committed genocide against our people--the Chechens
and the Ingush. We do not want a repetition of this.
In the final analysis, no one today knows how the deadlock in the
Chechen war should be broken. Only the people of the Chechen Republic,
voting in free elections, can determine the outcome. Will there
be a free election on 5 October, and is it possible to participate
in it?We cannot tell anyone what to do. Each person is free to make
his own choice. Each person will be responsible for his choice,
however, and each should make this choice consciously, mindful of
all of its implications. We do not believe that the election will
bring peace to the Chechen Republic if the supporters of independence,
including members of the Chechen resistance, are left out of the
political process.
The experience in resolving conflicts in many "hot spots"
on the planet indicates that the cessation of armed confrontation
must precede any election or referendum. What is actually happening?
The October 2002 census suggested that the Chechen Republic had
a population of 1,088,000, although the actual figure was just over
600,000. This was done in preparation for the March "referendum"
on the constitution, which was approved by hundreds of thousands
of "dead souls."
After this, they turned the amnesty into a farce: Instead of giving
the members of the Chechen resistance a chance to participate in
political affairs, they offered them a chance to join Akhmad Kadyrov's
security guard under his personal protection. All of this had already
happened in 1995 and 1996, when the "elected" government
lasted only a few months.
Free elections were held in the Chechen Republic in 1997, and the
results were acknowledged by the international community and the
Government of the Russian Federation. A new legitimate government
is impossible today unless it is the legal successor of the government
elected then.
We appeal to the Chechen people.You are tired of war, and many
of you would accept any outcome and are hoping for a miracle again.
That is your personal choice. You do not have to participate in
the election. If you do go to the polls, however, you should know
that they will deceive you again. They will tell you that the election
will make you safe, but did the March "referendum" stop
the violence and terror?
We appeal to the candidates for presidential office.You are also
hoping for a miracle, but there will be no miracle. You will be
either deceived or stifled. It is already obvious that all of the
strength and "administrative clout" is on the side of
one candidate, Akhmad Kadyrov. The hundreds of thousands of "dead
souls" and the people that will be counting their votes are
also on his side. If you will not refuse to participate in this
clearly dishonest election, however, you must at least admit the
truth to yourselves. No, this will not be a clean election, but
let the source of the dirt be obvious to the outside world.
We appeal to the global community. Do not give this obviously dirty
undertaking the semblance of cleanliness by participating in it.
None of the conditions formulated by the Council of Europe for free
elections has been met in the Chechen Republic. By agreeing to be
official observers of this "election," you will be partly
to blame for the crime.
We appeal to the public, Russian and international.You are being
urged to participate in monitoring the election, and you might be
hoping for a miracle, but there will be no miracle. You have been
keeping a chronicle of these crimes along with us for all of the
last few years, without becoming accomplices in the crimes. Keep
track of everything that happens, but do not sanctify the upcoming
farce with your official presence.They want to force us into complicity
and thereby deprive us of a future. If we refuse to be deceived
today, however, that will be no small accomplishment.
List of persons and organizations which signed the present statement
1. Imran Ezheeyev - The regional department Russian-Chechen Friendship
Society;
2. Libkan Bazayeva - Public organization "Woman merit";
3. Minkail Ezhiyev - The regional department of the Russian-Chechen
Friendship Society;
4. Magomed Musayev - Public organization of " Zov predkov "
[Call of ancestors];
5. Koka Khachukayeva - Human rights organization of "Bol materey
Chechni" [Pain of mothers of Chechnya];
6. Shirvani Gunayev - International United Committee of Refugees
from Chechnya;
7. Tamara Guzuyeva - Public organization "Lik budushchego"(Chechnya-Ingushetia);
8. Ramzan Didayev - Public organization "Liga of the progressive
forces of the Chechen republic";
9. Lecha Ilyasov - Public center "Latta";
10. Izruddin Aldamov - Public organization "Lamanan Shovda";
11. Timur Aliyev - Interregional Public Organization of the T. Aliyev's
Institute;
12. Ruslan Badalov - Regional Public society "The Chechen Committee
of National Rescue", National Olympic Committee of Chechnya;
13. Baudi Dudayev - Public organization "Alliance of the forced
migrants from the Chechen republic";
14. Zarman Makhadzhiyeva - Human rights organization "Niyso";
15. Murad Nashkhoyev - Independent Consultative Council;
16. Zulay Bagalova - Cultural center "LAM", meritorious
artist of the RSFSR
17. Mate Tsikhesashvili - "Committee for search of people who
disappeared without a trace"
18. Lema Shakhmurzayev - Institute of political culture"LAMAST";
19. Toita Yunusova - Chechen department of interregional peacemaking
organization MMO "Ekho of war" - Nazran;
20. Zaynap Gashayeva - MMO "Ekho of war";
21. Madina Magomadova - Association "Materi of Chechnya for
mir [Mothers of Chechnya for peace];
22. Maya Shovkhalova - Public organization "Iberiya".
23. Fatima Gaziyeva - Co-chairman of the Union of the North Caucasus
Women"
24. Magomed Musayev - Union of jurists of the Chechen republic
25. Tamara Kalayeva - Independent Chechen information center
26. Yakha Tayzulayeva - Public organization "Umma"
27. Dik Altemirov - Public assembly of political of parties of CHRI
movement
28. Koka Sardalova - Leader of the public organization "Nokhchin
Nanoy" (Mothers of Chechnya).
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