International observers do not question results of presidential elections in Chechnya

International observers, who monitored presidential elections in the Chechen Republic, do not question their results, announced on Monday head of the CEC Alexander Veshnyakov in an interview with journalists after a telephone conversation with chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Yuri Yarov.

The head of the RF Central Election Committee announced "observers, who not only monitored the voting process, but were also present during vote counts at some of election centers in Chechnya", had unanimously agreed that the results of the elections were legitimate.

Mr. Veshnyakov called the presidential elections in Chechnya "a logical step toward peaceful political solution of the problems in the republic." "The next step should be parliamentary elections, with half of the deputies being chosen on party ballot," he emphasized.

"The best time for the parliamentary elections in Chechnya is March 14, 2004, so that they coincide with the presidential elections in Russia," said the head of the RF CEC.

Speaking about the second round of gubernatorial elections in St. Petersburg held on Sunday, Mr. Veshnyakov underlined that the representatives of the CEC, who monitored the elections, did not have any critical or opposing remarks toward the organizational procedures during the voting and vote count.