RUSSIA: ALEXANDER LEBED'S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

(27 Jan 1997) Russian/Eng/Nat

With the vote for president already underway in Chechnya, the Russian leadership is holding its breath, waiting to see who they will be dealing with in the separatist territory.

Moscow is said to favour Aslan Maskhadov, the rebels' pragmatic military leader who spearheaded peace talks with Russia.

But the rising popularity of Shamil Basayev, a wanted terrorist in Russia and a hard-line separatist, has the Kremlin worried.

Alexander Lebed -- top contender for the Russian presidency and the man who sealed peace in the breakaway region -- says he has no preference.

In an exclusive interview with APTV, Lebed said Moscow would have to build civilised relations with whoever was elected president.

If Alexander Lebed replaces Yeltsin as Russia's leader he will be the one dealing with the new Chechen president.

In an exclusive interview with APTV, Lebed said he doesn't mind who wins.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"Q: Who should be President?
A: It's up to those who live in Chechnya. Whoever they choose will be President and it's up to Moscow to establish civilised relations with him.
Q: What if Basayev wins? Will Russia be able to deal with him?
A: It's the business of those who live in Chechnya. They are quite able to think for themselves."
SUPER CAPTION: Alexander Lebed, Former National Security Chief

Aslan Maskhadov is Moscow's preferred candidate.

It was Maskhadov who masterminded the Chechen war effort and then negotiated peace when Lebed was still Russia's National Security Chief.

Informal Chechen polls put Maskhadov ahead of other candidates. Shamil Basayev is running a close second.

The immense popularity of Shamil Basayev has the Kremlin worried.

He is a Chechen national hero and could well win today's elections.

But in Russia, Basayev remains a wanted terrorist and would be an extremely difficult figure for anyone in the Russian government to deal with in public.

A Basayev presidency would likely have disastrous consequences for Russia and perhaps for Chechnya too.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"In that case there will be a permanent crisis in our relationship and that will be very dangerous, because there are a lot of people in Russia and in Moscow who would like to re-run the war."
SUPER CAPTION: Alexei Arbatov, Russian Duma deputy

Few in Moscow doubt that whoever is elected Chechen President will push for complete independence as soon as possible.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"What will happen after the elections? They'll split from Russia. Until the year 2000 they'll take money from Russia to rebuild and then they'll split."
SUPER CAPTION: Boris Nikolayev, vox pop

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"Who's Basayev? A terrorist. Uneducated. Who needs him? Maybe he'll be head of police or Defence Minister. All he knows is how to be a terrorist, nothing more.
SUPER CAPTION: Roman Ivanov, vox pop

Depending on the outcome of today's polls, Moscow may soon find itself negotiating the future of Chechnya with the man who tops Russia's most wanted list.

And many fear this would plunge the country back into war.

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