Ingush Leader Quits, Signals Reelection Bid

Ingushetia's leader, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov

The leader of Russia's republic of Ingushetia, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, has requested and received permission from President Vladimir Putin to resign from his post in order to seek reappointment to the same position.

Yevkurov was meeting with Putin outside Moscow on July 4 and told reporters Putin granted the request to step down as head of the republic in Russia’s North Caucasus and that Putin named Yevkurov to stay on as acting head of Ingushetia.

Yevkurov said he has also decided to run for another term as head of the republic in September, another decision that Putin supported.

Under legislation passed in Russia earlier this year, leaders of regions and autonomous republics can be chosen by legislators rather than voters.

The new regulation requires that standing heads of such regions resign from their posts before becoming candidates for the same post for another term.

Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and Interfax