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Ramzan Kadyrov Secures Fifth Term in Chechnya with 99.85% of the Vote
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Kadyrov Wins Fifth Term with Near-Unanimous Vote
On September 21, Russia’s Central Electoral Commission announced that Ramzan Kadyrov was re-elected as head of the Chechen Republic for a fifth term, receiving 99.85 % of the vote—slightly higher than the 99.73 % recorded in the 2021 election. The result follows nationwide parliamentary and regional elections that concluded on Sunday, a test of Russia’s tightly controlled political system after four and a half years of war in Ukraine. Kremlin-backed parties and candidates swept the ballot after most anti-war candidates were barred from running, according to the official results.
Chechnya’s Political Landscape and Kadyrov’s Authority
Kadyrov, 49, has ruled Chechnya as a de-facto personal fiefdom for more than two decades with the explicit backing of President Vladimir Putin. He routinely emphasizes his loyalty to Putin and highlights the deployment of Chechen forces in the Ukraine conflict since 2022. The election commission’s data show a modest increase in his vote share from the previous cycle. In public statements, Kadyrov dismisses criticism of the election as a Western-backed attempt to undermine his rule. He is also positioning his 18-year-old son, Adam, as a potential successor.
Human-Rights Allegations and International Criticism
Human-rights organisations have long accused Kadyrov’s administration of widespread violations, including attacks on journalists and LGBTQ + individuals, claims the leader denies. International observers have previously sharply criticised the conduct of elections in the mountainous republic, noting a lack of genuine competition and transparency.
Parallel Regional Elections
Alongside the Chechen vote, eight other Russian regions held direct elections for governors. In the Belgorod region, Governor Alexander Shuvayev—appointed by the Kremlin in 2025—officially received 65.9 % of the vote. In the neighboring Bryansk region, newly appointed Governor Yegor Kovaltchuk secured a preliminary result of roughly 69 %.
Potential Implications for Russian Governance
Kadyrov’s near-unanimous re-election reinforces the Kremlin’s strategy of maintaining loyal regional strongmen to ensure stability in volatile areas. The continued exclusion of anti-war candidates and the persistence of human-rights concerns suggest limited prospects for electoral reform in Russia’s peripheral republics, while the display of high vote percentages serves as a symbolic affirmation of centralized authority.