Refugees in Pankisi Boycott Elections in Chechnya

Chechen refugees living in Georgia Pankisi Gorge refused to participate in the presidential elections of Chechnya, held on October 5.

?No polling stations are opened in Pankisi Gorge,? Nukri Arveladze, head of the Akhmeta district, where Pankisi is located, told Civil Georgia.

Last week Russian delegation visited Pankisi gorge and tried in vain to convince up to 3,700 Chechen refugees to return to their homeland.

Six candidates are competing for the presidency in Chechnya, but the favorite is the Kremlin’s top official in Chechnya Akhmad Kadyrov. 

The Russian authorities have been faced with widespread criticism for holding a vote during wartime.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)