Gryzlov's Son Threatens Suit

The son of State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov said Monday that he intends to sue the St. Petersburg City Elections Commission after it refused to register several of his colleagues in upcoming local elections, Interfax reported.

Dmitry Gryzlov said the commission refused to register as candidates several members of his team who were planning to run in the municipal elections, though the younger Gryzlov himself was registered, Interfax reported. (MT)

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Chechen Exorcism Clinic

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov was on hand Monday for the opening of a Muslim clinic in Grozny where doctors say they will treat those possessed by demons, Interfax reported.

Doctors at the Center of Islamic Medicine will treat up to 80 patients a day by reading them prayers and chapters from the Koran, all free of charge, the Rosbalt news agency cited Sultan Mirzayev, an Islamic leader in the republic, as saying.

Kadyrov said at Monday's ribbon-cutting ceremony that the center will treat people with methods used in the republic for centuries. (MT)

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German Dead Near St. Pete

A German man was found dead near the entrance to his apartment building in the town of Kronshtadt, outside St. Petersburg, Fontanka.ru cited local police as saying.

The man, whose name was not released, had been working as an engineer in St. Petersburg since 2006 and lived in Kronshtadt. The report gave no indication of the cause of death. (MT)

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For the Record

Gunmen shot dead four people, including the head of a district administration, at a cafe just east of Dagestan's capital, Makhachkala, on Sunday night, Interfax reported. (Reuters)

Moldova's parliament voted Monday to hold an election April 5, the first in a series of acts that may enable Communist President Vladimir Voronin to stay in or close to power. (Reuters)