Grozny, 3 February 1997 (RFE/RL) -- The inauguration ceremony for newly-elected Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov has been rescheduled from February 10 to February 12.
Itar-Tass quotes Maskhadov press secretary Mayarbek Vachgayev as saying that difficult election arangements had left inauguration organizers with too little time to plan the ceremony, forcing a 48-hour delay.
Chechen officials have promised tight security during the inauguration. Official invitations have been sent to the heads of CIS member states and to the presidents of Russia's internal republics, among others.
Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin today congratulated Chechnya's newly-elected president, Aslan Maskhadov, on his recent victory.
Chernomyrdin's spokesman Viktor Konnov told Interfax news agency that the prime minister sent his congratulations in a telegram. He did not say whether Chernomyrdin would attend the inauguration.