GROZNY. July 30 (Interfax-South) - Acting Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov intends to run as an independent candidate in the Chechen presidential elections.
"I am very grateful to United Russia leader Boris Gryzlov and Popular Party head Gennady Raikov, as well to the other parties and movements that nominated me or announced their intention to support my candidacy. However, I want to run as an independent candidate. In my opinion, the future Chechen president should not be tied to a particular political organization," Kadyrov told Interfax on Wednesday.
"The president will have to resolve the very difficult task of uniting the Chechen people, who are split by conflict and dispersed throughout the world," he said. "It will be easier for me to speak on behalf of the people who voted for me," he said.
On Tuesday, the Chechen branch of the United Russia party decided to nominate Kadyrov Chechen presidential candidate. The regional branch of the Popular Party announced its support for the candidate.