As powerful leaders are known = who are known as powerful leaders? The former phrase sounds awkward to me. Is it commonly used?

It declared victory late last year, claiming it had “severely punished” 3,700 “village overlords” (as powerful leaders operating without heed to the law are known)

Question

As powerful leaders are known = who are known as powerful leaders? The former phrase sounds awkward to me. Is it commonly used?

It declared victory late last year, claiming it had “severely punished” 3,700 “village overlords” (as powerful leaders operating without heed to the law are known)

Answer

The two phrases have different meanings.

As powerful leaders are known:
- What people in this area call them

Who are known as powerful leaders
- They are famous for being powerful leaders.

So, in this case they are saying that powerful leaders in this region are called/named village overlords.