
Chechnya8217;s newly-elected President Alu Alkhanov on Tuesday ceremonially assumed office in Grozny, the Chechen capital, amid high security. Alkhanov8217;s oath-taking was kept a closely guarded secret and the venue of the ceremony was not announced, in view of threats by Chechen guerrillas to kill him.
Alkhanov won a landslide victory in the presidential poll on August 29, following the death of former Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov.
Alkhanov has vowed to continue Kadyrov8217;s hardline policy, declaring no dialogue with militants until they surrender. Putin8217;s special ambassador to the Southern Federal District, Dmitry Kozak took part in the ceremony.