Deputy premier Ramzan Kadyrov (right) is a key player

The Russian republic of Chechnya votes for a new parliament on Sunday, a year after Moscow-backed candidate Alu Alkhanov was elected president. He replaced Akhmat Kadyrov who was elected in October 2003 and assassinated in May 2004.

Q: What does the poll mean to Moscow?

A constitutional referendum in 2003 gave Chechnya greater autonomy, while enshrining its status within Russia.

Moscow says this election is the final stage in the process. It wants the new parliament to ratify a treaty dividing authority between Russia and Chechnya.

Q: What is the rebels' view?

UK-based Chechen rebel envoy Akhmed Zakayev says these are "pseudo-elections".

Members of Chechen communities abroad recently protested outside the European Parliament, calling for a boycott.

While some candidates standing as independents are former rebels, separatism is not on the election agenda.

Q: What of previous parliaments?

Chechnya has had four parliaments since 1991, two under Moscow rule and two under the self-styled Chechen state of Ichkeria.

The last election was in January 1997, on the same day as the presidential poll - internationally recognised as free and fair - won by rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov.

Many of the 52 MPs were former militants who fought against Russia.

Since June 2003 a State Council has carried out the function of parliament.

Q: What is parliament's structure?

The upper Republican Council and the lower People's Assembly together comprise 61 deputies, elected for four years. This time only 58 are being chosen.

Eighteen deputies representing 18 districts will enter the Republican Council, while 40 deputies will join the People's Assembly: 20 from single-seat constituencies and 20 from party lists.

Q: Who can stand?

Ismail Baykhanov heads Chechnya's election commission

Candidates must be 21 years old. News reports say that 353 candidates, including 27 women, are running.

Q: Who can vote?

Voters must be aged 18 and Russian citizens resident in Chechnya.

Nearly 597,000 are eligible to vote in 430 polling stations. Turnout in each constituency must be at least 25%.

Russian servicemen permanently stationed there, put at some 34,400, can also vote.

Q: What are the logistics?

The elections are expected to cost over R100m (�2m; $3.4m; 2.9m euros).

A total of 1,815,000 ballot papers have been printed.

Q: What parties are standing?

Eight mainstream Russian parties are contesting seats in both chambers.

The Pro-Kremlin One Russia is thought to be the frontrunner. President Alu Alkhanov and First Deputy Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov both belong to One Russia.

These parties are fielding 106 candidates on party lists. They also have candidates standing in single-seat constituencies. Other candidates are running as independents.

Q: Who are the key players?

Observers say the election battle is really between three figures:

Ramzan Kadyrov: Appointed first deputy premier by the Russian president after the assassination of his father. Backs amnesty for repenting Chechen rebels. Member of One Russia.

Ruslan Yamadayev: Member of Russian parliament and deputy secretary of One Russia's Chechen branch. His brother commands the 18,000-strong Russian battalion permanently stationed in Chechnya.

Bislan Gantamirov: Former Chechen vice-president, now a Moscow-based businessman. Believed to have thousands of supporters in Chechnya. Though not running, he heads the Motherland Party's election campaign.

Q: What of security?

The Chechen Interior Ministry has set up a special team led by Deputy Interior Minister Akhmed Dakayev.

In addition, 24,000 police officers and servicemen will be on duty on the election day, with another 3,500 police officers and troops for back-up.

Q: Will there be monitors?

The process is overseen by the Chechen Electoral Commission.

Russia's Central Election Commission says 10 international organisations, including the Arab League and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, are sending observers.

There will also be about 1,000 Russian monitors.

EU bodies have declined to take part, saying they do not monitor regional polls or the region is too volatile.

Q: What of opinion polls?

A recent survey by the Chechen Information Ministry gave the following breakdown for the eight parties:

One Russia 35%, Communist Party 10.5%, Yabloko 10%, Liberal Democratic Party 6%, Motherland 4.2%, Union of Right Forces 3.2%, People's Will 1.5% and Eurasian Union 0.6%. The rest said they would not vote for any party or did not know.

However many Chechens are expected to vote for individuals, some of them independents with pro-separatist views.

BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaus abroad.