Russia May Drop Direct Elections Of Regional Governors

The Kremlin considers dropping direct elections of regional governors, RBC reports citing sources. Vladimir Putin is expected to express his view on the matter during the upcoming meeting of the Council of Legislators.

• Russia reinstated direct elections of regional governors in 2012 after an eight-year hiatus. The move was formally sponsored by outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev as part of a broader package of political reforms enacted in response to widespread protests that erupted in the wake of 2011 Duma elections.
• The RBC article suggests that the scenario currently considered by the Kremlin would involve a temporary abolishment of popular gubernatorial elections and replacing them with nominations by regional assemblies.
• RBC sources were unable to confirm if these changes could become permanent, but they suggested that the next round of "direct gubernatorial elections [most likely] will be cancelled."
• RBC: "There is also a high probability that the elections to the legislative assemblies of the regions and city dumas will be postponed, RBC interlocutors said. According to two of them, it can either be postponed to 2023 or 2024, when presidential elections are scheduled in Russia."
• The Council of Legislators is an advisory body composed of Federation Council and State Duma speakers, senior federal lawmakers and speakers of regional legislatures. Its next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday and will take place in Tauride Palace, St. Petersburg.