First Session Of New Chechen Parliament Set For 12 December

(RFE/RL) 10 December 2005 -- The newly elected Chechen parliament is to hold its first session on 12 December.

The announcement was made today by the head of the Chechen electoral commission, Ismail Baikhanov.


On 12 December, deputies elected in the 27 November vote will choose speakers of parliament's two chambers, the People's Assembly -- the lower chamber -- and the Council of the Republic, the upper chamber.


The Kremlin-backed United Russia party won more seats (33) than any other party in the 58-seat parliament.


Chechen separatist rebels took no part in the election, calling it a farce. Russian and international human rights groups criticized the polls, calling them a pretense of a political process in the restive republic. There were few international observers at the election.


(RIA-Novosti)

Crisis In Chechnya

Crisis In Chechnya


RFE/RL's complete coverage of Russia's war-torn Republic of Chechnya.


CHRONOLOGY

An annotated timeline of the Chechnya conflict.