MINOR CANDIDATES LEFT STANDING

With the forced removal or “voluntary” withdrawal from the presidential race of Khusein Dzhabrailov, Aslambek Aslakhanov and Malik Saidullaev–the three serious rivals to the de facto incumbent Akhmad Kadyrov–and also of minor candidate Said-Selim Tsuev, there remained six (theoretically) active candidates as of September 24. In addition to Kadyrov himself, those six surviving candidates are as follows: Khusein Bibulatov, adviser to the head of the Elektrogorsk research center on nuclear power plants; Abdulla Bugaev, former cabinet member of the Chechen republic; Shamil Buraev, former head of the administration of the Achkhoi-Martan district in western Chechnya; Avkhat Khanchukaev, instructor at Grozny University; Nikolai Paizullaev, official of the Kadyrov administration’s press service; and Kudus Saduev, businessman.