27 September 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has nominated a new governor for the restive southern province of Kabardino-Balkaria, west of Chechnya.
Putin today named Arsen Kanokov to succeed Valerii Kokov as the regional president. The nomination must now be approved by the regional legislature.
Kokov, the region's long-serving leader, has been ill. He resigned earlier this month. His departure has sparked concerns about potential for more unrest in the region.
Kabardino-Balkaria, along with other southern Russian regions, has seen a rise in Islamic extremist movements and violence targeting police, soldiers and other law enforcement officials in recent years.
(ITAR-TASS/AP)
Kokov, the region's long-serving leader, has been ill. He resigned earlier this month. His departure has sparked concerns about potential for more unrest in the region.
Kabardino-Balkaria, along with other southern Russian regions, has seen a rise in Islamic extremist movements and violence targeting police, soldiers and other law enforcement officials in recent years.
(ITAR-TASS/AP)