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(25 Apr 1998) Russian/Nat The political future of former Russian cabinet member General Alexander Lebed, and possibly of Russia itself, is in the hands of the residents of a city in the Siberian region. Voters in the region's capital city, Krasnoyarsk, are preparing to cast their votes for a new governor on Sunday. General Lebed is hoping to win the post and use it as a springboard to the Kremlin, and the Russian presidency. Lebed has declared that this is his last shot at re-entering the political arena, and if he fails to win Sunday's vote his political career will be over. The Krasnoyarsk region, a vast, mineral-rich stretch of central Siberia is four times the size of France. Its governor controls an economy larger than several European and American states, making it an ideal training ground for a presidential candidate. And it's here that General Alexander Lebed, who came a strong third in Russia's last presidential election, has decided to relaunch his political career in what is being seen as a dry-run for the next race to the Kremlin. Thousands gathered to see the celebrity candidate who, in his brief government career, helped to bring peace to Chechnya. For young and old alike he was the popular voice of dissent in the cabinet until President Yeltsin sacked him for insubordination two years ago, casting him into a political no-man's land. The governorship gives Lebed a chance to get back into the political fray. Krasnoyarsk is traditionally seen as an electoral barometer for the rest of the country and Lebed knows that if he cannot win here, his chances of getting to the Kremlin in the year 2-thousand are small. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) “It's true this is a test balloon for me. I intend to win this election and if I don't, it won't make much sense for me to take part in the presidential election. I'm that sort of person I like challenges.“ SUPER CAPTION: General Alexander Lebed, candidate for governor of Krasnoyarsk Lebed is pulling out all the stops on his campaign trail, even winning the support of French film star Alain Delon, who chartered a plane from Paris to Krasnoyarsk specially to be with the general. Delon, considered by many Soviets as a symbol of masculinity and the ideal hero, befriended Lebed during one of the general's high-profile visits to France last year. But some observers believe he was paid to appear by one of the powerful financiers who are thought to be backing Lebed. This allegation is strenuously denied by Delon. SOUNDBITE: (English) “I decided before, I thought of it before and I came here, And I'm here for him. And I'm happy to be here. I'm not working for me I'm not working for anyone. I'm just pleased to help him to be at his side.“ SUPER CAPTION: Alain Delon, French actor Lebed's main opponent and the incumbent governor Valery Zubov is also thought to be allied to a leading financier. The battle between the two leading candidates has got so fierce that allegations of campaign fraud are rife. Zubov claims that Lebed is just an opportunist and has no interest in the people of Krasnoyarsk. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) “He simply doesn't understand the problems of the region.“ SUPER CAPTION: Valery Zubov, Governor of Krasnoyarsk But Lebed says that as a high profile politician he can attract the investment needed to develop the resource-rich region. On Sunday it will be down to the ordinary voters of Krasnoyarsk to decide whether the former paratrooper can help them as well as help himself. And there are mixed feelings on who to vote for. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive:
