With 99.85% of the votes, Ramzan Kadyrov secures fifth term in Chechnya

Ramzan Kadyrov will lead Chechnya for a fifth term after receiving 99.85% of the vote in elections held in the southern Russian region.

The result was announced by Russia’s Election Commission, while the electoral process took place under tight political control.

Kadyrov, who has led Chechnya since 2007, is one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies. He has repeatedly expressed his support for Putin and Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The percentage he received this time is higher than in the 2021 election, when Kadyrov won 99.73% of the vote.

During the campaign, candidates who opposed the war in Ukraine faced obstacles to participating in the race. Meanwhile, the parties that had secured seats in previous elections backed United Russia, Putin’s party.

Kadyrov took over the leadership of Chechnya after his father, Akhmat Kadyrov, was assassinated in 2004. Under his leadership, the region has continued to maintain close ties with the Kremlin.

International human rights organizations have accused Kadyrov’s government of human rights violations for years, allegations he has denied.