03:29, 3 July 2026

Kadyrov involved the Council of Elders in his election campaign.

Members of the Council of Elders of Chechnya unanimously supported the candidacy of Ramzan Kadyrov at a meeting in Grozny for the upcoming elections for the head of the republic.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", during a live broadcast on December 14, Ramzan Kadyrov stated that he is fed up with power, but will run for the head of the republic in the 2026 elections if the president offers and the people support him. On April 29, Kadyrov met with Putin in Moscow and secured his support, once again calling himself his "infantryman." During this meeting, Putin expressed hope that "the residents of Chechnya will once again support" Kadyrov in the elections scheduled for September 20.

Kadyrov announced his intention to participate in the next elections for the head of Chechnya back in July 2023, commenting on rumors about his possible replacement that allegedly spread at that time. Kadyrov's words about participating in the elections are primarily addressed to part of the elite that expects his resignation, while he has no need to negotiate with the Kremlin, analysts interviewed by "Caucasian Knot" pointed out.

The Council of Elders of Chechnya unanimously supported the candidacy of Ramzan Kadyrov at a meeting held on July 2 in Grozny for the elections for the head of the republic, which will take place in September, TASS-Caucasus reported.

At the reporting and election meeting of the Council of Elders, a new chairman of this body was elected, the deputy of the republican parliament Ryazvan Dadaev. His candidacy was also unanimously supported by the participants of the meeting, according to a publication on Kadyrov's Telegram channel.

Kadyrov called the Council of Elders "one of the most important public institutions" operating in Chechnya, mentioning that its representatives "help resolve family conflicts and reconcile people who have had blood feuds for many years."

Commissions for resolving family conflicts in Chechnya were created at the direction of Ramzan Kadyrov. Family reunifications occur under pressure and often become traumatic for those who for various reasons decided to divorce, analysts interviewed by "Caucasian Knot" in 2023 noted while commenting on the report about family reunifications in Chechnya. Members of the commission for resolving family conflicts asked strange questions, the conversation resembled an interrogation more, said a resident of Grozny, Ibrahim, in 2024.

"I sincerely thank everyone present for supporting my candidacy. For me, this is a great honor and a high responsibility, which, as before, I will justify with honest work," Kadyrov's words at the meeting are quoted by "Grozny-Inform."

In his Telegram post, Kadyrov also noted that "in the tragic years at the end of the last century" the institution of the Council of Elders "suffered heavy losses" and began to revive only thanks to his father, Akhmat Kadyrov. At the same time, the publication "Kommersant" in a publication from December 1, 2000, indicated that the initiator of the revival of this body was Mufti Ahmad Shamaev, and Kadyrov Sr. did not provide him with active support.

"The head of Chechnya, Akhmad Kadyrov, learned about the creation of the Council of Elders in Chechnya from a correspondent of Kommersant. He believes that this will be another advisory body that is unlikely to be able to play any serious political role in the life of the republic. However, the head of Chechnya has nothing against its creation," the material "The Mufti of Chechnya revives the Council of Elders" states.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that in the upcoming elections to the State Duma, the Chechen list of "United Russia" will be headed for the first time since 2007 not by Ramzan Kadyrov, but by the current deputies from the region.

Translated automatically via OpenAI from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/424619