Bashkortostan Chief Set to Sweep Election

By Chloe Arnold

UFA, Bashkortostan --- President Murtaza Rakhimov rules his republic with a firm hand.

When newspapers run stories about corruption in the government, he has them closed down. When last month a radio station called for a more democratic regime in Bashkortostan, its head was arrested and locked up.

Rakhimov's son controls the republic's oil industry. His wife controlled oil exports until she retired two years ago, and her nephew heads the largest bank, which is exempt from tax.

This Sunday, the people of Bashkortostan, a Russian republic of about 4 million inhabitants, most of them Moslem, go to the polls to vote for their president. But judging by the lack of campaign material for any rival candidates in this city just west of the Ural mountains, the result is a foregone conclusion.

On the flight from Moscow, stewardesses hand out brochures about the republic. Rakhimov's face, with the words ``Bashkortostan is my destiny'', emblazoned across his nose, stares out from every page. The only election posters in Ufa, the capital of the republic, urge citizens to vote for Rakhimov. Even the graffiti at the local construction sites read ``Murtaza --- we're behind you all the way''.

Last month, the Central Election Commission removed the names of three rival candidates from the electoral register. The official justification was that petitions submitted in support of the candidates contained fake or improperly obtained signatures.

Although all three have lodged appeals in Moscow, at the moment, just two candidates remain in the running --- Rakhimov and a minor minister in his own government. Most observers agree that Rif Kazakkulov, Bashkortostan's timber minister, is running only to create the illusion of a competitive election.

``I don't care how many candidates I am up against'', Rakhimov said Wednesday. ``I am still going to win. People know in their hearts whom they are going to vote for. Let that be enough proof that I shall continue to be president''.

Despite the lack of competition, Rakhimov on Wednesday went to campaign in the town of Yazykova, an hour's drive from Ufa, and to open the newly built Palace of Culture.

``Dear people of Yazykova'', he said to the crowd of 500. ``Let me tell you how well the republic's economy is doing. The oil industry is booming; agriculture is on the up and up. In three years' time, every home in Bashkortostan will have a telephone; every road will be asphalted''.

The speech was met by silence, broken only by a police officer, one of almost 100 circling the crowd, who ordered an old man to keep back.

Next on the floor was former Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, an old friend, who had flown to the republic to pledge his support for the president.

``Here is a man who not only knows what needs to be done, but how to do it'', he said. ``I implore everyone in this town to vote for Rakhimov, an honest and worthy leader. This is the man the republic needs''.

``Of course I am going to vote for Rakhimov'', said Nellya Sultanova, a pensioner, after the speeches. ``He pays our pensions, we have food to eat, and the republic is not so poor. What more can we ask for?''.

Young people, however, were less convinced. ``What other choice do we have?'' said Regina Gafarova, 17, who sells cheese in a local shop.

But when asked about the three candidates who have been barred from the election, she looked surprised. ``No one told us anything about that'', she said.

Earlier in the day, Rakhimov cut the ribbon on a gallstone-dissolving machine at the Kauchuk hospital in Sterlitamak, the republic's second-largest city, 200 kilometers south of Ufa.

Before he arrived, local police cleared hospital workers from the yard. ``The president is a fraud'', said one man before he was hustled away by two police officers.

Another, who gave his name only as Alexander, said he had wanted to vote for Marat Mirgazyamov, the former prime minister of the republic who was one of the threecandidates struck off the ballot. ``But our bosses forced us to sign for Rakhimov. Otherwise, they said, we would lose our jobs. We haven't seen our wages in six months, and they call this a democracy''.

11 июня 1998г. The Moscow Times