Moscow, May 6 (RFE/RL) - Russian President Boris Yeltsin said today that the country's presidential election will take place as scheduled on June 16.
Yeltsin was reacting to a statement made yesterday by his security chief Aleksandr Korzhakov. Korzhakov said he favored delaying the presidential election because it had the potential to destabilize Russia.
Interfax quoted Yeltsin as saying Korzhakov was n-o-t the only one who believed a win by Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov could provoke civil unrest. But Yeltsin said he believed in the wisdom of the Russian people to make the correct choice.
Earlier today, Itar-Tass quoted Yeltsin campaign manager Sergei Filatov, who said his team was in "combat mood." Filatov said raising the issue of postponing the election was "harmful" and could "provoke disorders and coups." Filatov said Korzhakov's statement was triggered by "fear" and "uncertainty in victory."
The chairman of the Russian State Duma, Gennady Seleznyov, also said today that there was n-o reason to postpone the election.
Yeltsin was reacting to a statement made yesterday by his security chief Aleksandr Korzhakov. Korzhakov said he favored delaying the presidential election because it had the potential to destabilize Russia.
Interfax quoted Yeltsin as saying Korzhakov was n-o-t the only one who believed a win by Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov could provoke civil unrest. But Yeltsin said he believed in the wisdom of the Russian people to make the correct choice.
Earlier today, Itar-Tass quoted Yeltsin campaign manager Sergei Filatov, who said his team was in "combat mood." Filatov said raising the issue of postponing the election was "harmful" and could "provoke disorders and coups." Filatov said Korzhakov's statement was triggered by "fear" and "uncertainty in victory."
The chairman of the Russian State Duma, Gennady Seleznyov, also said today that there was n-o reason to postpone the election.