[RFE/RL] Partial results show that Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov is leading with more than 97 percent of the vote in Sunday's election of the regional chief. With more than 15% of the ballots counted, Russia's Central Election Commission said on September 19 that the other candidates had secured less than 2% of the vote each. These candidates included Chechnya’s business ombudsman Idris Usmanov, Gairsolt Batayev of the Communist Party, and Sultan Denilkhanov of A Just Russia.
Kadyrov has led Chechnya since March 2007. During the last several months, he has run the region as the acting leader after his term officially expired in April.