Thousands reject ballots without Cherepkov
By Russell Working
Angry that Mayor Viktor Cherepkov's name was struck from the ballot because of allegations of illegal campaigning, 54 percent of Vladivostok residents who voted said no to every one of the remaining 12 candidates Sunday.

JANINA DE GUZMAN Moscow lawyer Nikolai Ivanov, a legal adviser to Mayor Viktor Cherepkov, answers journalists' questions outside Leninsky District Court.

Court strikes Cherepkov's name from ballot

By Janina de Guzman and Russell Working

Arguing that Mayor Viktor Cherepkov spent city funds on his own political campaign, a Vladivostok court on Sept. 24 disqualified the mayor as a candidate three days before the vote.

Fires kill 3 in Sakhalin
By Nonna Chernyakova
The Sakhalin Oblast Administration has declared a state of emergency in Tymovsky County after forest fires killed three people and burned the homes of another 862 in central Sakhalin.

Governor won't take Cabinet post
By Janina de Guzman
Primorye Gov. Yevgeny Nazdratenko praised Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, slammed market reformer Anatoly Chubais, and denied rumors he was taking a ministerial position in Moscow at a Sept. 21 press conference following a visit to the capital.

Chubais calls for end to political, energy woes
By Mike Eckel
Anatoly Chubais, chairman of the national power utility Unified Energy Systems and former deputy prime minister, wrapped up his three-day tour of Far Eastern regions and utilities Sept. 18.

Crisis slows out-of-town bus traffic
Zolotoi Rog
The ruble crisis is causing hard times for the normally busy Vladivostok Bus Station in the Second River suburb, leaving inter-city buses half-empty even on weekends and holidays.

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