The elections in Chechnya went with enormous success on November 27, 2005. Chechen Jihadists haven't had the chance to kill anyone this week, because they were getting killed , and all the elections polls were secured for ten days before the date of the election.
Turnout was amazing, though very unbalanced; overall 60% of the Chechen population voted, however, in some areas only 25% showed up, while in the others – up to 75%. There wasn’t a single claim or complaint from national and international observers, or the citizens. The only concern raised was the difference of the appearance in some areas over-controlled by the government; turn-out started picking up towards the end of the day, when local officials realized that the necessary 25% turn-out might have not been achieved. However, again the reasons for the late turnout could be very basic and real, based on the work schedules and increasing confidence of the citizens in their personal safety.
Another glitch was caused by the rule that if someone’s address has changed in the past few years, or their home was destroyed during the war - people were allowed to pick up a fresh ballot by just displaying their passport. That way one could vote several times in different towns.
Some citizens were excited to vote, anticipating the changes, however the majority of the population questioned at the polls was cynical about the elections. Many locals said that the elections don’t reflect the opinion of the people, because “Putin’s administration has already decided who is going to take the Parliament seats”, and even if the results are true – people are generally tired of the chaos that has existed in the republic for the past fourteen years, and no one believes that a group of elected officials can stop the violence, corruption, mountain banditry, the jihadists and lack of transparency in the oil economy.
Over all, you can call the elections successful and democratic, but given the circumstances - still useless.
