Murtaza Rakhimov has announced he will not run for reelection in late 1998, ``Kommersant-Daily'' reported on 7 October. Until now, he was considered the only prospective candidate. The newspaper cited unsubstantiated allegations in other Russian media that Rakhimov is implicated in the illegal sale of petroleum products. The 63-year-old Rakhimov was elected chairman of the Bashkir Oblast Soviet in 1990 and president of Bashkortostan three years later.
8 октября 1997г. Радио ``Свобода'' / ``Свободная Европа'' --- Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty