2004–05 Russian gubernatorial elections


Gubernatorial elections in 2004 and 2005 were held in 25 federal subjects of Russia. In several regions these elections were moved from end of 2004 to March 14 to combine with the 2004 Russian presidential election.
On 12 December 2004, at the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin, gubernatorial elections were abolished throughout the country. These were the last gubernatorial elections in Russia until September 2012.

Bryansk Oblast

Governor of Bryansk Oblast Yury Lodkin was going on his third term in 2004, but was removed from registration "for abuse of office". The application to the regional court was submitted by the candidate from the People's Party Alexander Zhdanov. Lodkin, considered one of the favorites of the campaign, linked his removing from ballot with his Communist Party membership. He accused the United Russia party of “unwillingness to win legally”.

Samara Oblast

The elections were set up by the regional court on 19 September 2004, after the court recognized that the 5-year term limit, introduced into the Samara Oblast Charter during the 2000 elections, can come into force only after next elections and that Konstantin Titov's term expired on July 2. However, the elections were later canceled by the Supreme Court at the suit of the Central Election Commission.

Nenets Autonomous Okrug

Gubernatorial elections in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug were held on 23 January 2005, the second round was held on February 6. Incumbent governor, in office from 1996, could not be nominated due to the two-term limit. In addition he was convicted for beating a traffic police officer.
Candidates included:
  • Alexey Barinov, President of a charitable foundation, former chief federal inspector for Nenets AO, ex-employee of LUKoil
  • Viktoria Bobrova, assistant of Nenets AO Regional Prosecutor
  • Vladimir Butov, relative and namesake of incumbent governor
  • Igor Koshin, member of Nenets AO legislature; former secretary of the political council of United Russia's regional branch, expelled from the party after self-nominating for governorship
  • Leonid Sablin, member of Nenets AO legislature, chairman of regional executive committee
  • Aleksandr Shmakov, entrepreneur, 2001 gubernatorial candidate

Aftermath

On 18 February 2005, Alexey Barinov officially took office. In May 2006 he was arrested on charges of committing fraud. On June 2 of the same year, President Vladimir Putin removed Barinov from the governorship and appointed the chief federal inspector for the region, Valery Potapenko as the interim governor of NAO. Later, in 2007, Barinov was acquitted.