MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin will propose Ramzan Kadyrov to continue for another five years leading the republic of Chechnya, RBK daily newspaper revealed on Thursday, citing three sources close to the Kremlin and the Chechen regional government.

Kadyrov is a strong politician who satisfies federal direction and has authority in the region, a senior Russian official told RBK.

The Chechen leader, whose term as head of the republic expires in April, said on Wednesday that he will abide by any decision on his future taken by Putin, days after pointing out in an interview that his time as the head of Chechnya is over and that the Kremlin should find a substitute.

The controversial leader, who came to power in the restive republic in 2007, said that he and his team have won the support of the federal government, which tasked them with heading the country.

Under Russian law, the Kremlin chief is entitled to nominate candidates for the leadership of Chechnya, before being subjected to public polls.

Kadyrov has been accused by the Russian opposition and human rights activists of involvement in the murder of Kremlin opposition leader and former Russian deputy prime minister Boris Nemtsov, in February 2015.

He is also accused of being behind the death of journalist Anna Politskovskaya in 2006, and Chechen activist Natalya Estemirova in 2009.