21.   Few Russian politicians have summoned the courage to question the carnage in Chechnya and the damage it has done to democratic values in Russia.

22.   He is not in a race with other Russian politicians, who will run for the exercise but admit they have little hope.

23.   Human-rights groups protested, as did some Russian politicians.

24.   Issues like the approaching enlargement of NATO, which has incensed many Russian politicians, have been largely unaddressed in his absence.

25.   Instead, Chechen officials have attributed the violence in the northern Caucasus to Russian politicians.

26.   Ivanov dismissed a previous peace mission by Russian liberal democratic politicians, led by the former Prime Minister Yegor Gaidar, with thinly veiled scorn.

27.   Leading Russian politicians began commenting on the possibility of a government reshuffle to reflect the changes in parliament as a result of the vote.

28.   Most Russian politicians favor a tough line against Chechnya, where hundreds of Russians and foreigners are believed to be held hostage by ransom-taking abduction rings.

29.   Most Russian politicians have appeared all too eager to jump on the war bandwagon.

30.   Not only Russian politicians but most ordinary Russians as well have been badly shaken by the conflict.