Popular elections of governors may be canceled in Russia – RBC Today, there is a high probability that direct gubernatorial elections can be canceled. Photo: Kseniya Zimina Cancellation option

The popular elections of governors may be canceled in Russia – RBC

Today, there is a high probability that direct gubernatorial elections may be cancelled.

Photo: Kseniya Zimina

The option of canceling direct elections of governors in Russia and transferring them to regional legislative assemblies will be discussed on April 27 during a meeting of the Council of Legislators with President Vladimir Putin, RBC reports on April 26, citing its sources.

“Today, there is a high probability that direct gubernatorial elections can be canceled, and the regions will be able to switch to elections through legislative assemblies,” all RBC interlocutors said. One of them clarifies that we are talking about the possible cancellation of all direct gubernatorial campaigns this year, and what will happen in the future is unclear. Another interlocutor confirms: “Direct elections of governors [most likely] will be canceled,” the report says.

Direct gubernatorial elections were already abolished in Russia in 2004. Then a new model appeared: on the proposal of the president, the candidacy of the head of the region was approved by the deputies of legislative assemblies. In 2012, direct elections were returned. However, in most national republics, the model of electing the heads of regions through legislative assemblies is still preserved.

According to the interlocutors of the agency, the elections to the city dumas and legislative assemblies themselves can be postponed to 2023 or 2024.