The current head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, announced that he was “bored“ with power. He made this statement during a live broadcast on the Grozny TV channel.
“If you ask me, I am bored with this power and with serving the people. I think new forces, new people would be more interesting and the situation would improve if there were other people“, Kadyrov answered a question about a possible re-election in 2026.
He noted that he would run for office if Russian President Vladimir Putin “proposed it and the people supported it“. Kadyrov stressed that he remains committed to serving the people and will not deviate from this path for the rest of his life.
Kadyrov became the head of the republic on April 5, 2007. He has held his post longer than any other current regional leader in Russia. The Chechen was last re-elected in September 2021. According to the Central Election Commission, he received 99.7% of the vote with a voter turnout of 94.42%. Kadyrov's term expires in 2026.
In September 2022, he said that he deserved an "indefinite and long vacation". Kadyrov then expressed hope that he would be "understood and supported".
In July 2023, the head of Chechnya announced his intention to run for another term. "They are not looking for anyone to replace me, and I will not allow them to have to look for anyone. When my term expires, with the permission of Allah, I will run again, and if the people elect me, I will continue to work," he said.
In early May 2025, Kadyrov changed his position again and announced that he had asked to be relieved of his post. Then journalists asked the head of the republic about the rumors about his resignation. "I also heard these rumors. They write all sorts of things. I, on the contrary, ask to be relieved of my post. I hope that my request will be supported," Kadyrov emphasized then.