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Tatarstan's President To Seek Fourth Term |
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Saturday, 12 March 2005 |
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Untitled Document
Speaking at a press conference in Kazan, Shaimiev said he
decided to do so after Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested the idea to
him at a meeting in Moscow on 9 March.
"I had said many times that I did not want to take part
in the next election [of Tatarstan's president in 2006]. Now the rules [of election
of local governors and presidents] have changed, and although he [Putin] told
me he knew that I didn't want to work anymore and that I wanted to retire, he
asked me to stay for one more term and gave his reasons for that [request].
After thinking it over I gave him my [affirmative] answer," Shaimiev said.
Shaimiev said he will ask parliament to approve his application
for candidacy.
Under a new Russian law, regional legislatures elect heads
of regions after Russia's president nominates a candidate for the post.
Shaimiev, who is 68 years old, has been Tatarstan's president
since 1991. His third five-year term ends in March 2006.
Source: RFE/RL
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