Kremlin's man to lead Chechnya

Chechnya’s Kremlin-appointed leader was assured of victory in the region’s presidential vote, a widely expected outcome after his main challengers withdrew or were removed from an election condemned by critics as a sham.

With more than 44% of the votes counted in preliminary and unofficial tallies, Chechen administration chief and acting president Akhmad Kadyrov had about 85% and his victory in Sunday’s election was beyond doubt.