Over a quarter of a century, Russian authorities have consistently gotten rid of not so much mayoral elections as their unpredictability. How political competition was destroyed at the local level 18+. This material (information) is produced, distributed and (or) sent by a foreign agent of the Internet publication "NOVAYA GAZETA" or relates to the activities of a foreign agent of the online publication "NOVAYA GAZETA". In one of the three regional capitals where directly elected mayors remain, Khabarovsk, these elections were cancelled. The two elected mayors of Abakan and Anadyr are still working (their term of office ends in 2029), but it is not a fact that there will not be an early change. Elections for the post of governor - directly - are held in Russia. But they are performed in a specific way. In the 1990s, elected mayors could debate governors, stand up to federal power, and even win elections against Kremlin-backed candidates. This system has now been dismantled. It has become persistently "vertical" of the Soviet type: the "lower" are completely subordinate to the "higher", and powers are given "from above" and not delegated "from below". Vladimir Maksimov explains why independent mayors were not needed by those in power. The link doesn't open? Read here.

Over a quarter of a century, Russian authorities have consistently gotten rid of not so much mayoral elections as their unpredictability. How political competition was destroyed at the local level 18+. This material (information) is produced, distributed and (or) sent by a foreign agent of the Internet publication "NOVAYA GAZETA" or relates to the activities of a foreign agent of the online publication "NOVAYA GAZETA". In one of the three regional capitals where directly elected mayors remain, Khabarovsk, these elections were cancelled. The two elected mayors of Abakan and Anadyr are still working (their term of office ends in 2029), but it is not a fact that there will not be an early change. Elections for the post of governor - directly - are held in Russia. But they are performed in a specific way. In the 1990s, elected mayors could debate governors, stand up to federal power, and even win elections against Kremlin-backed candidates. This system has now been dismantled. It has become persistently "vertical" of the Soviet type: the "lower" are completely subordinate to the "higher", and powers are given "from above" and not delegated "from below". Vladimir Maksimov explains why independent mayors were not needed by those in power. The link doesn't open? Read here.