By Kester Kenn Klomegah
MOSCOW, Nov 24 2005 (IPS)

Parliamentary elections scheduled in Chechnya Nov. 27 will mark the final stage of the Kremlin’s peace plan for the troubled republic.

That process began in 2003 with a referendum that affirmed a permanent place for the republic in Russia. President Vladimir Putin announced following the referendum that more than a decade of brutal war was at an end.

The Russian government hopes that the election will make it possible to establish proper branches of power in the Chechen republic, bring political stability, and create an environment for economic development.

Ten political parties have nominated candidates, said Chechen Election Commission chairman Ismail Baikhanov. A total of 265 candidates are contesting – 65 for a Council of the Republic and 200 for the People’s Assembly, Baikhanov said in a statement.

The People’s Assembly will comprise 20 deputies elected from party lists and 20 others elected in single mandate electoral districts. In the Council of the Republic, a representative body within the Assembly, each of the 18 deputies will represent one of the Chechen districts.

The election has drawn good response, Baikhanov said. “There are a lot of politicians and figures from science and the arts well known in Chechnya and throughout Russia among the candidates. The electoral process is proceeding amidst a generally calm atmosphere.”

Over the past few years, some 7,000 militants have surrendered their arms, returned to peaceful life and joined law enforcement agencies in Chechnya, Chechen President Alu Alkhanov told a news conference in Moscow.

Alkhanov promised a fair election. “We will not disrupt anything at all during the elections, we want the elections to proceed in strict accordance with the law. We are open and prepared to receive observers from any international organisation.”

Alkhanov added: “Those who were influenced by false ideas and joined illegal armed groups, but returned to peaceful life having not committed crimes, those whose loyalty is not doubted by law enforcement agencies, have been offered the constitutional right to run for the parliament.” Alkhanov was confident of at least a 25 percent turnout.

The new parliament could become Chechnya’s first forum for broad civil debate since the second war began in 1999. But fighting continues, despite claims to the contrary, and many still doubt that the Nov. 27 election will bring change.

The Memorial Human Rights Centre, a Russian non-governmental organisation, has said in a statement that the elections are unlikely to mark a step towards peace in the North Caucasus. Ongoing violence means that elections cannot be free and fair, and the conditions are not right to allow for expression of all political views, including the separatist view, it said.

Human rights violations continue, “but the elections will at least draw some international attention to Chechnya,” Amnesty International researcher Victoria Webb told IPS. “The Russian authorities seem to be successfully using the language of war against international terrorism to dampen international criticism of government action in the North Caucasus. They classify the situation in Chechnya not as a conflict situation but as a counter-terrorist operation.”

The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner Alvaro Gil-Robles has said the Council will monitor the election closely.

Gil-Robles said in an interview with Interfax news agency that the Chechen elections are a matter of European values and Chechen democratic development. He said the election marks the beginning of a democratic processes promoted by the Chechen leadership.

Gil-Robles welcomed the political progress in Chechnya. He said the Chechen people have been inspired by hope of peace and stability.

Chechnya is getting a development boost at the same time. The European Union has announced allocation of 20 million euro for healthcare, education and small business development in Chechnya, Ingushetia and North Ossetia.

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