Kadyrov re-elected as Chechnya leader with 99.85% of vote UPDATED

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has been re-elected as head of the Chechen Republic with 99.85% of the vote, according to results released after 98.71% of ballots had been counted, Russian media reports. 

This was Kadyrov’s third direct election since he became head of Chechnya. In 2021, he won 99.7% of the vote with a turnout of 94.61%, while in 2016 he received 97.94% with turnout reaching 94.8%.

Chechnya recorded one of the highest turnout figures among Russia’s regions during the three-day voting period.

In the North Caucasus Federal District, Chechnya and Stavropol Krai are the only two regions where heads are still elected directly.

In Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia and North Ossetia, regional heads are elected by their parliaments following nominations by the Russian president.

09:06

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has received 97.35% of the vote in the first preliminary results of the republic’s presidential election, according to data from Russia’s Central Election Commission.

The figure was recorded after just 2.40% of ballots had been counted, meaning the result remains preliminary and could change as counting continues, Russian media reports.

Kadyrov, who heads the Chechen Republic, also reported exceptionally high voter turnout during the three-day election. As of 6:00 p.m. local time, turnout stood at 93.98%, representing 825,348 voters, according to figures cited by the Chechen leader.

Kadyrov said that no serious incidents had been reported during the three-day voting period.

In a statement posted on his Telegram channel, Kadyrov attributed the high turnout to what he described as the population’s experience of past hardship and its appreciation of peace and stability.

“Our people have endured severe trials and know well the value of peace, stability, and the ability to independently determine the future path of development for our native republic,” Kadyrov wrote.

By Sabina Mammadli