The FSB has been informed about Chechen rebel gangs getting sizeable sums from international terrorist donors and masterminds to torpedo the poll of August 29, Sergei Ignatchenko, FSB Public Relations Center chief, said to Novosti. Extraordinary measures are taken against the plots.
To intimidate the public into absenteeism or protest votes is militants' primary goal. Overseas sponsors have also ordered Chechen warlords to whip up information warfare-largely through on-line propaganda. In particular, terrorist web sites assume that the presidential election offers no alternatives. That's all wrong-suffice it to mention seven presidential hopefuls registered for today, said Mr. Ignatchenko.
The danger of terror acts in Chechnya and elsewhere in the North Caucasus persists to this day. In that context, our interviewee made a reference to a large and sanguinary terrorist attack in Ingushetia, bordering on Chechnya, in the small hours of June 22. The militants certainly meant to show to international terrorist chieftains that they were still strong and battle-worthy, and so could aspire to money from abroad.
About a hundred died in the terrorist attack at Ingush law-enforcement and other governmental offices.
