Ilyumzhinov resigns as Kalmykian President

The ITAR-TASS news agency has reported that Kirsan Ilyuzmzhinov, the president of Russia’s internal republic of Kalmykia of many years, and FIDE president, tendered his resignation this week (as Kalmykian President, not from his FIDE post). A new president will be nominated by Dmitry Kozak, Russian President Putin’s special envoy to the South Federal District, who will be holding talks in the coming days in Kalmykia.

Ilyumzhinov’s term in office officially expires in November 2006. He has been the head of FIDE, the World Chess Federation, since 1995.

Mosnews is reporting that President Ilyuzmzhinov tendered his resignation on Tuesday and simultaneously raised before Russian President Vladimir Putin the question of trust in him. The leaders of regional parties, public groups and Kalmykia’s parliament will take part in the consultations with Kozak. Ilyumzhinov’s administration stressed that “representatives of all parties and movements opposed to Ilyuzmzhinov will be invited to the meeting” with Kozak. Over the past years Kalmykia has been a venue for violent protests against Ilyumzhinov’s regime, notorious for human rights abuses and crackdowns on the free press.

Interfax reports that Dmitry Kozak has said that the majority of participants in consultations to nominate a candidate for the Kalmyk presidency in Elista supported incumbent President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. Kozak consulted Peoples' Khural (Parliament) deputies, heads of local governments and representatives of regional parties, public and veterans' organizations. "During the consultations various opinions were articulated. The majority of the participants, despite certain wishes and criticism, believe that the incumbent president's term should be extended," Kozak said. "As far as my own opinion is concerned, the final decision belongs to the Russian president," Kozak said.