Editing Second Chechen War (section)

===Restoration of federal government===
{{Main|Federal government in Chechnya}}

In May 2000 the following month, Putin appointed [[Akhmad Kadyrov]] interim head of the pro-Moscow government. This development met with early approval in the rest of Russia, but the continued deaths of Russian troops dampened public enthusiasm. On 23 March 2003, a new Chechen constitution was passed in a referendum. The 2003 Constitution granted the Chechen Republic a significant degree of [[autonomy]], but still tied it firmly to Russia and Moscow's rule, and went into force on 2 April 2003. The referendum was strongly supported by the Russian government but met a harsh critical response from Chechen separatists; many citizens chose to boycott the ballot. {{Citation needed|date=January 2008}} Akhmad Kadyrov was assassinated by a bomb blast in 2004. Since December 2005, his son [[Ramzan Kadyrov]], leader of the pro-Moscow militia known as ''[[kadyrovtsy]]'', has been functioning as the Chechnya's ''de facto'' ruler. Kadyrov has become Chechnya's most powerful leader and, in February 2007, with support from Putin, Ramzan Kadyrov replaced [[Alu Alkhanov]] as president.