RUSSIA: Russian officials yesterday celebrated the success of a controversial referendum on the future of war-ravaged Chechnya, but international observers raised serious doubts about a poll denounced as meaningless by the region's rebels, writes Daniel McLaughlin, in Moscow
State television reported that at least 80 per cent of those eligible had voted in a referendum that the Kremlin says could lead to broad autonomy for Chechnya and an amnesty for guerrillas, and invite an influx of investment to rebuild a region devastated by two wars with Moscow since 1994.
"No one, anywhere, has recorded any case of a citizen being pressured to vote," said Mr Alexander Veshnyakov, head of the State Electoral Commission.
"Rather, an atmosphere of complete freedom has been noted - a holiday atmosphere - and a huge willingness to vote and to help solve the existing problems."
Chechnya's Moscow-appointed Prime Minister, Mr Anatoly Popov, went even further in describing public enthusiasm for a poll that would undermine the region's hopes for independence by formalising its place in the Russian Federation.
"We have had the kind of turnout that wasn't seen even in Soviet times," he told Russian television. "People are singing, playing music, children are performing - it's like a celebration."
Mr Hrair Balian of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, who was one of the few international observers at the poll, was more qualified in his assessment of a vote that most democracy watchdogs boycotted over security fears.
"The conditions today are far from ideal for holding a referendum and the constitution is far from perfect," he said. "But if this vote becomes the start of a political process, it could be a success."
Results were expected early this morning.
Dr Aaron Rhodes, executive director of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, said the vote should never have taken place while Russian troops were dying daily in rebel attacks, and Chechens regularly complained of kidnap, rape and murder by soldiers.
"It's totally inappropriate at the moment," Dr Rhodes told The Irish Times by telephone from a Chechen refugee camp in southern Russia, where he said one polling booth had been set up to deal with about 7,000 registered voters.
On the eve of the poll, Russian state television reported that 46 rebels had surrendered to federal troops and given up their weapons. Pictures showed two men handing over guns and a handful of Kalashnikov rifles propped up against a wall.
State media said nothing of the fate of two high-tech helicopter gunships that disappeared with their four crewmen over Chechnya on Thursday.