In the spring of 1995, after returning home, the author recalls that the war in Chechnya had not yet ended. The city was shelled less often, but fighting on its outskirts and around it was still continuing.
According to the text, local residents were hostile to the Russian authorities, even though that power had formally been established in the republic. To change the situation, Moscow decided to hold an election for the head of Chechnya. Only candidates loyal to the Russian authorities were allowed to run.
Supporters of Dzhokhar Dudayev's власти did not recognize the vote. The main candidate backed by Russia was Doku Zavgaev, a Chechen and an experienced Soviet party official who had headed the local parliament before Dudayev came to power.
About a month before the vote, an assassination attempt was carried out against Zavgaev, but he was barely harmed. Officially, more than half of Chechnya's residents took part in the election, and 95% of those who voted were said to have supported the Kremlin-backed candidate.
As head of the republic, the text says, Zavgaev left little memorable impression. He did not take radical decisions, make fiery speeches, declare war on anyone, or promise to solve the crisis within hours.
The author concludes that, against the backdrop of earlier political rhetoric and dramatic gestures, Chechen society seemed to barely notice Zavgaev.