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Sixty per cent of Chechens want Kadyrov as president - opinion poll

2 March, Caucasus Times, Prague: Caucasus Times has conducted an opinion poll among residents of Groznyy and Shali in order to learn the reaction of Chechen residents to the change of power in the republic and to find out what they think about the continued abductions in Chechnya and the practice of appointments of regional heads by the Kremlin.

This poll was conducted as part of the project called the Public Opinion in the North Caucasus, which had conducted polls in the North Caucasus republics for three years with the financial support of NED [National Endowment for Democracy], a US foundation. All figures were expressed in per cents. A total of 400 people, aged 16 or older filled in questionnaires and interviewed face-to-face.

The interviews were held under the supervision of Caucasus Times correspondents who had undergone survey training.

Asked "who out of these candidates you would like to see as head of Chechnya" (the list of candidates was drawn up by Caucasus Times), most of the people who answered the survey (60 per cent) named Ramzan Kadyrov.

Those responding explained that Ramzan Kadyrov managed to change the situation in Chechnya and to eliminate military operations on the territory of the republic. They also said that he is young, energetic, decisive and knows what he wants.

The second place was given to a former candidate for Chechen presidency, a
businessman from Moscow and patron [of the arts] Malik Sadulayev. Some 25 per cent of those polled gave their votes to him.

Muslim Khuchiyev, first deputy head of the Chechen presidential and governmental administration was ranked third with 4 per cent of the votes.

Head of the Groznenskiy District of Chechnya Shakhid Zhamaldayev, former mayor of Groznyy Beslan Gantemirov and former candidate to president FSB [Federal Security Service] Colonel Movsur Khamidov received 1 per cent each.

Two per cent of those questioned said that they would like to have as president someone from outside Chechnya and who has nothing to do with the local elite of the republic.

Six per cent of the respondents said that none of the people on the list can be a proper head of Chechnya.

Answering a very topical question, despite the statements [denials] of the Russian authorities, on "who is responsible for the continued abductions in Chechnya", almost half of those questioned (41 per cent) suggested that ordinary bandits are behind most of the abductions. Twenty-eight per cent of people said military and security servicemen were behind the abductions. Half of those who accused the military and security agencies (14 per cent) think that it is the "Kadyrovites" and mainly servicemen of the GRU [Russian military intelligence], FSB and the Defence Ministry who are responsible for the abductions. Only 3 per cent accused the militants and many respondents (28 per cent) had difficulty with answering this question.

Their replies to the question on the abolition of elections of regional heads and appointments by the Kremlin were quite cautious, pessimistic and uncertain. Thus, the majority (39 per cent) were undecided on the issue, whereas 29 per cent believe that the abolition of elections would stabilize the situation in the republic and 21 pre cent tend to think that this would never change the situation. Eleven per cent think this practice would further deepen the existing problems.