–ELECTION INSPIRES LITTLE FAITH

Polling data from war-torn Chechnya should be treated with caution. For that very reason, it is noteworthy that two-thirds (68 percent) of eligible voters recently surveyed by the Validata Institute were bold enough to answer that they believe the presidential election will be neither free nor fair. A smaller majority, 51 percent, said that Akhmad Kadyrov will be declared the winner no matter what happens. All the same, 70 percent said that they intend to cast votes.

–HUMAN RIGHTS COURT BACKS CHECHENS