Alkhanov goes on leave

Chechen Interior Minister General Alkhanov is officially going on leave and joining the presidential race on June 21, a source in the Chechen Interior Ministry told the Caucasian Knot correspondent. Alu Alkhanov is expected to submit his application for registration as a candidate for the post of Chechen president to the republican election commission today.

"One of the minister's deputies, Ruslan Alkhanov, will act as the minister during this period," the source said. Ruslan Alkhanov is the interior minister's namesake.

Alu Alkhanov will be the 13th officially registered candidate for the post of Chechen president. Earlier, corresponding applications were submitted to the Chechen Central Election Commission by Vakha Visayev, an adviser to the president of Chechnya; Adam Edilov, a lawyer; Malik Saidullayev and Zura Magomadova, Moscow entrepreneurs; Marat Zaynalabidov, a resident of Rostov Region; Magomed Aidamirov, a resident of the village of Tolstoy-Yurt, Chechnya's Grozny district; Roza Vakhidova and Sergo Khachukayev, temporarily unemployed residents of Grozny; Sultan Aiskhanov, a teacher at the Chechen State University; Umar Abuyev, head of Chechenneftkhimprom Company; Abdulla Bugayev, head of the Chechen office of the Modern Humanitarian Academy in Moscow; and Husein Biybulatov, a pensioner from the town of Elektrogorsk.

Editors note: See also the article "Chechen interior minister to run for president".