The Hindu : Tight security ahead of Russian polls

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 14, 2004

International

International

Tight security ahead of Russian polls

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, MARCH 13. Russia has stepped up security to prevent terrorist attacks ahead of the tomorrows presidential poll.

About 300,000 police will be deployed across the country to maintain law and order during voting on Sunday, the Interfax news agency was told at the Interior Ministry. All the 95,000 polling stations are under round-the-clock police guard since March 4. Security has been tightened across Russia, including at airports, military sites and nuclear power plants. Extra troops were stationed along the border of violence-torn Chechnya.

There has been no terror warnings from Russian authorities, but the United States embassy in Moscow sent a message to American citizens warning them to avoid large gatherings and keep a low profile. Moscow has seen several terrorist attacks in the last few years, most recently a Feb. 6 subway bombing that killed 41 people. The Government blamed the attacks on Chechen rebels.

The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is expected to win re-election hands down, but a low turnout could wreck the vote whose outcome is pre-ordained. Any incident or terror attack may further discourage voters to come to the polls. At least 50 per cent of the Russian electorate must vote to make Sunday's poll valid.

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