North Ossetian president sets precedent

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MOSCOW (RIA Novosti political commentator Vasily Kononenko) - The resignation of Alexander Dzasokhov from his post as president of North Ossetia created a political sensation in Russia.

Dzasokhov said in the presence of Dmitry Kozak, the president's envoy in the Southern Federal District, that he had asked to Vladimir Putin to relieve him of his duties ahead of schedule. It is the first time that a regional head has resigned of his own free will amid public discontent.

Sources in the Federation Council (the upper chamber of parliament) said Vladimir Putin would analyze the request in the next few days and most probably grant it. Under law, he should put forward a candidate for the post within 14 days of the early termination of the powers of the republic's previous leader.

"I am creating a precedent. While everyone else wants to prolong their terms, I have decided to reduce mine," Dzasokhov said.

But this public statement is only part of the truth. Newspapers have reported that Dzasokhov's resignation is most probably "voluntary-compulsory." They cite the dissatisfaction of the federal center and Kozak with Dzasokhov's refusal to sign an agreement with Murat Zyazikov, the president of Ingushetia, on the return of Ingush refugees to the Prigorodny region of North Ossetia.

There is one more major factor of the president's early retirement. The first rumors about his possible resignation appeared after the Beslan tragedy in September 2004. Numerous demonstrations demanded his resignation. Yielding to the pressure of the opposition, Dzasokhov fired his government and promised to retire. But the Kremlin was categorically against this, thinking that the change of leader under the pressure of the public would provoke a chain reaction throughout the North Caucasus.

But Dzasokhov decided that it would be better to resign before mass protests broke out, especially because the investigation of the reasons for the Beslan tragedy was still going on. At the same time, the Kremlin could no longer ignore public discontent in the Caucasus republic.

All the nuances of protocol were considered. Sergei Popov, a member of the State Duma Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State, reminded RIA about the following formula: an offer that cannot be refused. "No criminal investigation was launched with regard to Dzasokhov, unlike some other regional heads. If Dzasokhov really decided to go of his own free will, this is a positive example. There is no political responsibility for the situation in the region or department in Russia," Popov said.

Boris Makarenko, a prominent political scientist who has known Dzasokhov for over 20 years, is convinced that this is a courageous decision of an upright and clever man. "Dzasokhov is a victim of circumstances created by the Beslan tragedy," he said. "The people and the local elite groups no longer trust him."

"Regrettably, this precedent will not become a rule soon. Ranking officials and politicians do not resign in recognition of the guilt of the state for major errors. The Kremlin had hinted to many leaders that they should go - all in vain. It is said that Ruslan Aushev, the previous president of Ingushetia, was 'encouraged' to leave very forcibly, but to no avail."

"We do not have a subconscious understanding of a leader's personal responsibility, which is the case in Europe. I hope that Dzasokhov's resignation is the first step toward this goal," the political scientist concluded.

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