Interview with Chechen presidential contender Abdula Bugayev

We call the readers' attention to Abdula Bugayev's answers to the questions prepared by the editorial stuff of the "Caucasian Knot":

- Would you tell of yourself a little?

- Bugayev Abdula Makhmudovich, 1949 year born, Chechen, higher education (graduated with honors from the historical faculty of the Chechen-Ingush State University in 1973), candidate of historical science. I am married. I've got a son and a daughter.

1967-1969 - work in the system of consumer cooperation of the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (CIASSR).

1978-1990 - scholastic work at the Chechen-Ingush State University.

1990-1991 - Chairman of the Standing Commission for Nationalities and Interethnic Relations of the CIASSR Supreme Council, CIASSR Deputy.

1995-1996 - Deputy, First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Chechen Republic, Deputy of the National Assembly of the Chechen Republic (1996).

1997-2000 - commercial work.

June 2000 - February 2001 - First Deputy Head of the Administration of the Chechen Republic.

- Why did you decide to propose yourself as candidate?

- In order to use my knowledge and experience to achieve peace and well-being in Chechnya.

- Who are your voters?

- Intellectuals, political companions-in-arms, my coevals... all those who care for peace, lawfulness, and spirituality in Chechnya.

- How do you estimate a current situation in the Chechen Republic: the dilemma "Chechnya-Ichkeria", a situation with the opposition and its influence on the current situation? How much does official information presented by the central media differ from the real state of affairs in the republic (your view and the view of the media)?

- The dilemma "Chechnya-Ichkeria" as such does not exist for me. I consider the conventionalities were "called for" by political expediency (especially subjective). It is obvious for me (it was and it is) such a division is short-sighted, to put it mildly. Unfortunately, the principle "separate and rule" has prevailed at one stage. But it will be over.

The "opposition" is still a serious force. From here comes its influence on the situation in the republic. Information presented by the central media (with rare exception) noticeably differs from the real state of affairs in Chechnya. Not everything is as smooth as it seems from the outside and as it is presented to the wide public. A thorough analysis of the situation and its many-dimensional comprehension is needed.

- What will be your first steps if you win?

- The pacification of the situation. Peace in Chechnya is not just a condition when there is no war. The peace in "post-war" Chechnya is a considerably more spacious and capacious idea and task And it can be achieved without special intervention from outside.

The thing that the federal center should do is to persuade the Chechen people (make them understand - if you want) that PEACE is obligatory for us. The next step is to claim for national diplomatic - peacemaking potential.

- Would you tell of your election program a little? What, in your opinion, will be the results of its realization in the republic?

- My program is:

1. The achievement of settled peace.
2. The power of the Law - the Dictatorship of the Law.
3. The restoration of the economy and social sphere - not federal targeted programs, but short-range programs for the settlement of immediate - priority problems; the revival of spirituality and morality.

- Who do you consider to be your principal rival?

- Voters' inactivity (decadent spirits - political apathy), which is a result of the "purges", list of presidential contenders, and large-scale (not legalized) use of administrative resources in favor of Akhmad Kadyrov.

- How do you estimate your odds for success?

- They are good enough.

- What peculiarities of your election campaign, in your opinion, will allow you to win?

- It is going without unreasonable ambitiousness and splendid pomposity.

- How do estimate the present election agitation of the other candidates?

- It is going in different ways, but without special expressiveness.

- Do you believe the votes will be fairly counted?

- There is a serious (and not ungrounded) anxiety that district administrations will use unfair methods to proclaim Akhmad Kadyrov President of Chechnya already on October 6.

- What is your attitude towards the counter-terrorist operation? Have it changed from its beginning until now?

- I regret that the appropriate constitutional order has not yet been established in the Chechen Republic as a result of the counter-terrorist operation.

- How is your election campaign going? Are there any difficulties and surprises in the course of it?

There are serious difficulties. And they are concerned, first of all, with the fact that all the executive power potential of the Chechen Republic is mobilized (with the obvious connivance of the federal center and indifference of human rights organizations - Russian and international) against the modest potential of the most of presidential candidates, including my potential.

September 26, 2003