Chechen Guerrilla Will Pay $30,000 To Kill Pro-Moscow Official

At the beginning of August, the brother of the official, Isita Gairibekova (a woman,) died, following an explosion that destroyed part of her house. Gairibekova was unhurt. According to the Russian military, members of the Chechen guerrilla threaten civilians, supporting the new Kremlin-installed administration. In the city of Shali the guerrilla allegedly distributed leaflets containing threats and saying that Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov will soon reassume his powers. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for Sunday in the republic. Many Chechns consider the vote a "farce," Dozens of thousands Chechens have fled the republic as a result of the war and are now in neighbouring Ingushetia. It is unclear how they will cast their ballots.