The current head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, has announced that he may participate in the regional head elections to be held in 2026.
Modern.az reports that he spoke about this during a live broadcast on the ChGTRK “Grozny” TV channel and stated that he would put forward his candidacy only if Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed it and the people supported it.
“If the President proposes it and the people support it, I will participate in the elections,” Kadyrov emphasized.
Ramzan Kadyrov has been leading the Chechen Republic since April 5, 2007, and is currently considered the longest-serving regional head in Russia. The last elections for the head of the republic were held in September 2021. In those elections, Kadyrov garnered 99.7 percent of the votes amidst a 94.42 percent voter turnout. His term of office expires in 2026.
Kadyrov has demonstrated different positions on this issue several times in recent years. In September 2022, stating that he had been in office for a long time, he said he deserved a “long-term and unlimited leave.” However, in July 2023, he changed his stance, announcing his readiness to run again if he had the support of voters.
In early May 2025, Kadyrov once again brought up the issue of resignation. Commenting on the news of a possible resignation spread in the media, the head of Chechnya himself stated that he had applied to be relieved of this position.
