Vladimir Protopopov, the director of an automobile factory in Neftekamsk, easily won an 8 February by-election in Bashkortostan for a seat in the State Duma, ITAR-TASS reported on 9 February. Protopopov gained 46.7 percent of the vote in a field of nine candidates. His closest rival, Communist-backed candidate Firgat Khabibullin, won just 23.9 percent. Proptopopov takes up the seat vacated following the death of Alzam Saifullin, who was elected to the Duma in 1995 as an Agrarian Party candidate. ITAR-TASS reported on 8 February that some local observers consider the by-election a ``rehearsal'' for the presidential election to be held later this year in Bashkortostan. Current President Murtaza Rakhimov has said he will not seek re-election. LB
10 февраля 1998г. Радио ``Свобода'' / ``Свободная Европа'' --- Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty