Kalmykia President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said Monday that he would not seek reappointment after his fourth presidential term expires in October, Interfax reported.
Ilyumzhinov cited President Dmitry Medvedev’s policy of rotating regional leaders as the reason for his decision and said he would support any successor put forth by Medvedev and the ruling United Russia party.
United Russia did not name any possible candidates Monday.
Ilyumzhinov, who has led the Buddhist republic since 1993, said he would try to organize a visit by the Dalai Lama and hoped to continue as the president of the International Chess Federation. He is running for re-election in the chess federation later this month.
(MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.