Chechens voted on Sunday for a new regional assembly in an election expected to cement the power of a pro-Russian strongman but dismissed by pro-independence rebels as a political sham.
Pro-Moscow officials say the polls will give Chechnya a full set of the government functions needed to make it a normal part of the Russian state after years of conflict.
"Parliamentary polls will kick-start the democratic process in Chechnya," Interfax news agency quoted pro-Moscow President Alu Alkhanov as saying. "Now we face municipal polls, mayoral elections, the process of creating civil society."
Most voters focused more on what parliament could do to end violence and improve the economic situation in the region devastated by a decade of war and haunted by lawlessness and kidnappings blamed by many residents on Russian troops and pro-Moscow security forces.
"The most important issue is peace, nothing else matters," Grozny voter Said, 33, said.
Separatist rebels took no part in the vote and called it a charade, as they have past Russian-administered elections. "We are against illegal elections on the territory of Chechnya," rebel Web site www.kavkazcenter.com said.
More than 24,000 police and troops were providing tight security in a region which sees daily hit-and-run attacks by rebels. Extra security measures have been ordered in neighbouring Russian regions.
The regional capital Grozny, still in ruins after the Russian military onslaught ordered by President Vladimir Putin in 1999 to end Chechnya's short-lived independence, appeared calm with little electoral activity visible.
"The only free election we had was when (late rebel leader Aslan) Maskhadov was elected in 1997," said Rustam, 29, reflecting widespread scepticism about a poll in which seven parties compete under heavy Moscow control.
Analysts say the new parliament will be dominated by loyalists of Deputy Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov, de facto ruler of Chechnya, whose power stems from his thousands of irregular troops - most of them, like him, former rebels.