Russian State Duma forbids heads of republics to be called presidents

The Russian State Duma has approved a bill forbidding heads of
republics to be called presidents, Yuga.ru reports.

The new law allows citizens of the republics to name their leader
according to their tradition.

RIA Novosti notes that the new law will force the authorities of the
republics to reconsider their legislature to make it meet the new
amendments.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov filed a request to the Chechen
parliament to exclude the word 'president' as the name of his
position. He believes that Russia can have only one president and
should stop the "presidents' parade". Renaming the position requires
from 3 to 10 million rubles from the Chechen budget.

The heads of Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria expressed
support. Yunus-Bek Yevkurov also requested the Ingush parliament to
change the name of his position.