2026 Karachay-Cherkess head election

In February 2011 then-President of Karachay-Cherkessia Boris Ebzeyev announced his resignation, just two years into his first term. President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev accepted Ebzeyev's resignation and appointed Rashid Temrezov, Member of People's Assembly of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic and road transportation official, as acting President of Karachay-Cherkessia.^[1] In March 2011 Temrezov was confirmed for a full term unanimously by the People's Assembly of Karachay-Cherkessia.^[2] Temrezov won re-election in 2016 and 2021, both times unanimously as well.^[3][4]

Early in his term Temrezov was credited with restoring ethnic and elite balance in Karachay-Cherkessia which was disrupted by his predecessor Ebzeyev.^[5][6] A major development occurred in January 2019, when Senator Rauf Arashukov and his father, Gazprom executive Raul Arashukov were arrested for two murders and controlling a criminal organization, as Arashukovs had been a very influential Circassian clan.^[7][8] In August 2020 Temrezov was named among governors who were most likely to be replaced, however, Temrezov improved his management and was able to be endorsed by President Vladimir Putin for a third term.^[9][10] By January 2026 Temrezov was again viewed likely to retire due to his tenure and socio-economic failures, however, Temrezov himself allegedly tried to set himself up for a record fourth term.^[11] A major blow to Temrezov's position was dealt in March 2026 when Prosecutor General of Russia filed a suit to Senator Akhmat Salpagarov, member of the same Karachay clan as Temrezov, in order to seize assets acquired through corruption worth 4 billion rubles.^[12]