Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov says he will seek another term in office.
Kadyrov, Chechnya's president and now republic head since 2007, had said earlier this year that he considered his mission to be complete. His term was due to expire in April. But Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed him interim leader until a September election.
Russian news agencies quoted Kadyrov as announcing on July 2 that he has filed to run in the election.
“I have just submitted all the respective documents to the election commission. I have filed an application on the agreement to become a candidate," Kadyrov wrote on his Instagram page.
Putin has relied on Kadyrov to stabilize Chechnya after two destructive wars, allowing him to rule the region like a personal fiefdom.
Human rights activists blame him for serious abuses, including widespread use of kidnapping, torture, and extrajudicial murders.
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