Putin's Chechnya Strongman Tightens Grip as Future Stability in Question
Chechnya’s Kremlin-appointed leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, was directly elected for the first time September 18 by a whopping 98 percent of voters, with 95 percent of the republic voting, according to official figures, tightening his grip on power in the north Caucasus region. The conspicuously high figures were expected as Kadyrov's iron-fisted rule tolerates little opposition and is backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. VOA's Daniel Schearf was in Grozny for the election and has this report.