The People’s Assembly of Karachay-Cherkessia today approved Rashid Temrezov for a new five-year term as head of the republic. Forty-eight of the 50 deputies took part in the secret ballot, and all of them voted for the incumbent, as expected.

Temrezov formally faced two rivals: Alexander Chaika, a Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) deputy and chairman of the parliamentary committee on regulations and mandates, and Krym Shnakhov, chairman of the committee on industry, transport and energy, representing A Just Russia. Their participation, however, was largely procedural: both served as nominal rivals in a process whose outcome had long been clear. The Russian president puts forward candidates for the post, and the regional parliament chooses one of three nominees. The key political decision is effectively made in the Kremlin, while lawmakers are left to formalise it through a vote.

Direct elections for the head of Karachay-Cherkessia were abolished in 2013. Since then, the republic’s leader has been elected for a five-year term by the People’s Assembly from three candidates nominated by the president on the basis of proposals from political parties.

At the end of August, Vladimir Putin submitted the candidacies of Temrezov, Alexander Chaika and Krym Shnakhov to the parliament. On 20 September, deputies chose the incumbent, as they had done in 2011, 2016 and 2021, when Temrezov also received unanimous backing. The latest vote marks his fourth appointment as head of the republic.

From the youngest head to a veteran

Temrezov became head of Karachay-Cherkessia in 2011, aged 34, making him one of the youngest regional leaders in Russia. In February that year, President Dmitry Medvedev appointed him acting head of the region, and on 1 March the People’s Assembly approved his appointment.

Temrezov is now one of the longest-serving members of Russia’s regional leadership. Only Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who has been in power since 2007, as well as Tatarstan’s Rais Rustam Minnikhanov and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who have led their respective regions since 2010, have served longer.

Temrezov is a member of the Presidium of the State Council and the Supreme Council of United Russia.

From the fuel industry to regional government

Rashid Temrezov was born on 14 March 1976. He began his career in the fuel and energy sector, working for Karachay-Cherkessknefteprodukt and a division of Sevkavgidroenergostroy, before becoming head of the republic’s capital construction department.

Temrezov began his political career with A Just Russia. In 2007, he became head of the party’s regional branch, but was soon removed from the position by A Just Russia leader Sergei Mironov. Temrezov subsequently joined United Russia.

In 2009, he was elected to the People’s Assembly of Karachay-Cherkessia and was also included in the Russian president’s personnel reserve. In January 2010, Temrezov was appointed head of the federal highways administration in the republic. A year later, he became head of Karachay-Cherkessia.

Income and assets

In July, candidates for the post of head of the republic published their income declarations. For 2025, Temrezov declared an income of 2.4 million roubles — the lowest figure among the regional leaders whose declarations were compared during the election campaign.

He declared two plots of land and two houses in the Moscow region, as well as a GAZ-21 car.

Oath and new government

Immediately after the election results were announced, Temrezov took the oath of office and formally assumed his duties.

Under the republic’s constitution, this automatically triggered the resignation of the Karachay-Cherkessia government. The current cabinet will, however, continue to perform its duties until a new government is formed.

The next step will be the appointment of a prime minister. The head of the republic appoints the chairman of the government with the consent of the People’s Assembly. Once appointed, the prime minister has 14 days to submit to the regional head the structure of the future government and the proposed composition of the cabinet.