08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Reports suggested that results of the election were predetermined in favor of candidates loyal to then Acting Chechen Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144],  [ID 15961]

"In the November 27 parliamentary elections in Chechnya, human rights groups and members of a Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe fact-finding mission who were present on election day alleged that the official voter turnout numbers were artificially high. Human rights groups also concluded that poor security and continuing human rights violations did not allow for a free and fair election in Chechnya. Other reports suggested that results of the election were predetermined in favor of candidates loyal to then Acting Chechen Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov, although the Chechen Central Election Commission reported there were no complaints of election law violations filed by parties or candidates."

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12.2005 - Source: UK Home Office

Report on Chechen parliamentary elections of 27 November 2005 ("Country of Origin Information Bulletin Russia 1/2005") [#43172],  [ID 15966]

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29.11.2005 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Chechnya: United Russia party won 27 November 2005 parliamentary elections; despite reports of intimidation election officials insist that vote passed peacefully ("Chechnya: High Voter Turnout Questioned") [#39881],  [ID 15962]

"According to preliminary results released by Chechnya’s Central Electoral Commission, the United Russia party – the dominant party in Russia as a whole which fielded 49 of the 354 candidates standing for the Chechen assembly - had a predictably easy win in the November 27 ballot, carrying off nearly 62 per cent of the vote. Local candidates standing for the Russian Communist Party came a poor second with 12 per cent of the vote, with the liberal Union of Right Forces, SPS, following close behind at nearly 11 per cent. No other party got past the five per cent threshold required to win seats in the 58-member Chechen parliament. Election officials insist that the vote passed off peacefully with no significant violations. They also say the minimum turnout required to validate the election - 25 per cent of the 597,000 registered voters - was easily met by midday. On the morning of election day, Chechen president Alu Alkhanov was saying confidently, “I am sure my countrymen will come out to vote. I don’t want to talk about percentages, but I have been assured that turnout will be at least 70 per cent.” Official results suggest that turnout was over 60 per cent. Human rights groups and others who monitored polls question the assertion that large numbers of people came out to vote."

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29.11.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Chechnya: Leading human rights organisations refused to monitor 27 November parliamentary elections; said monitoring the election process would equate to giving legitimacy to poll flawed from the start ("Russia: Human Rights Groups Spurn Chechen Poll") [#39878],  [ID 15963]

"Chechnya's legislative elections should have taken place two years ago, but they were postponed several times for fear separatist rebels may disrupt the vote. The poll, however, passed without violence. Officials have hailed the vote as a sign that things are returning to normal in the restive republic. The head of the federal Central Election Commission, Alexandr Veshnyakov, said he was on the whole satisfied with the vote. Russian President Vladimir Putin said it was a vital step forward in reestablishing order in Chechnya. According to the Chechen election commission, preliminary results show that the pro-Kremlin Unified Russia party garnered more than 60 percent of the vote. The Communist Party so far comes a distant second with 12 percent, followed by the liberal Union of Rightist Forces, with almost 11 percent. The Kremlin-backed Chechen president, Alu Alkhanov, was perhaps the most restrained in his praise of the poll, which he admitted fell short of "ideal" democratic standards. "What's important," he told a news conference in the Chechen capital, Grozny, "is that we are moving toward democracy." Russian human rights groups don't agree. They presented a united front before the poll by refusing to send election observers."

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28.11.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Chechnya: Putin welcomes preliminary results of parliamentary elections; pro-Kremlin "Unified Russia" leads with 60%, voter turnout reported at 66% ("Putin Welcomes Chechen Vote") [#39808],  [ID 15964]

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24.11.2005 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Chechnya: Candidates advocating Chechen independence excluded from November 27 parliamentary poll ("Chechen Election Offers Little Hope for Stability") [#39720],  [ID 15965]

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