(17 Mar 2000) Russian/Nat
Acting Russian president Vladimir Putin hit the campaign trail on Friday - with just over a week to go to the early Russian presidential elections.
With a colossal popularity rating of nearly 60-percent, former K-G-B spy Putin is heading for victory over his nearest rival, communist Gennady Zyuganov.
The man who looks set to be the next Russian President, toured factories in the Moscow region on Friday as part of his campaign.
Putin was on a pre-election trip to the city of Orekhovo-Zuyevo just east of Moscow.
Accompanied by Moscow region Governor Boris Gromov, he earlier visited a textile factory before going to a plant manufacturing commuter trains, before taking a newly-made train back to Moscow.
So far Putin has been reluctant to comment on the election, preferring to play role of a busy statesman.
But the acting president finally came clean on his ambitions.
During his improvised press conference on the train, Putin commented on Russia's continued war in Chechnya - to which he owes much of his popularity.
He said he was not afraid of possible threats against his life by Chechen terrorists and that Russian forces would kill or arrest all Chechen rebel leaders.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"If we are scared of terrorists, then they will feel strong. Therefore we have to clearly assess the level of threat, react adequately, we mustn't relax, but we will not fear them. Let them be afraid of us.
SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Putin, Acting President of Russia
As an example he cited the case of Salman Raduyev, the terrorist leader detained by Russian security forces and spirited to a Moscow prison late last week.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"Did you see who the FSB (Federal Security Service) brought to Moscow a few days ago? He is one of the people who terrorised the country, the whole country, great Russia. What did he look like, did everyone see? He didn't really look like a terrorist, like some kind of animal. We will make sure they all end up in this kind of condition."
SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Putin, Acting President of Russia
By Russian election law, a candidate needs to notch up 50 per cent plus one vote to claim outright victory without the need for a run-off between the top two candidates.
His closest rival, the Communist Party leader, Gennady Zyuganov trails Putin in the polls and may only get around 20-percent in the election scheduled for March 26.
Other candidates measure their popularity in single digits.
Putin said he was sure of victory in the elections, but claimed he didn't mind if it took a second round to achieve it.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"It seems to me it's (victory in the first round of elections) not the most important thing. The result is important. I think there wouldn't be any point in entering into the election campaign if I wasn't sure of success. Of course, I'm counting on success. But in my view, it's not important whether it's in the first or second round. The result is important."
SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Putin, Acting President of Russia
The Kremlin chief is expected in the central Russian city of Voronezh on Saturday, and will continue his timetable of pre-election trips early next week, visiting the cities of Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan, both located on the Volga river.
Pro-government media has been steadily increasing its coverage of the acting Russian president as the election campaign approaches its culmination.
One of the main accusations levelled at the former spy chief is a lack of information on his background and earlier life.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
