It goes without saying that the election is necessary. However, the situation in the republic is not simple because of the military regime.

Second, they are very trusting people - I am saying this to you as a Chechen man. We trust everyone else, but we do not trust each other.

The people have already determined Chechnya's status at the referendum - it is a unit of the Russian Federation. Its political status is not to be discussed any more.

The attempted assassinations against me were not accidental.

Military troops were withdrawn from Chechnya on Dec. 31, 1996.

I have to say that elections, even in the most peaceful region, always make the hardest time for regional state institutions, including security structures.

Criminals were coming to Chechnya from all over the world - they did not have a place in their own countries. But they could live perfectly well in Chechnya.

I always said that Wahhabism is unacceptable for the Chechen nation.

There is a rule of Sharia: If the enemy wants to suppress you, you are supposed to put up a strong resistance.

People took part in the referendum because they were tired of the war. They are afraid of talking about it out loud, but they have shown exactly where they stand: Yes, we want peace, and we want to be a part of Russia.