President Putin: People of Chechnya Vote for Peace

Russian President Vladimir Putin said, referring to the preliminary results of the referendum held in Chechnya, that the Chechen people had favoured peace and positive development together with Russia.

"We have solved the last serious problem related to territorial integrity of the Russian Federation," Russian President said while addressing the Cabinet on Monday.

He said the results of the Chechnya referendum were "positive". "We expected them to be positive, but they surpassed even the most optimistic forecasts," Putin said.

The people of Chechnya have made a democratic choice, according to Putin.

The Russian President stressed that "from now on, all those who have not laid down arms fight for their false ideals and against their own people." "Their interests," Putin continued "contradict the will of the Chechen people to live in peace."