1991–92 Russian gubernatorial elections

In 1990, a fundamentally important reform took place: the speakers of the regional Supreme Councils (in the republics) and the chairmen of the Soviets of People's Deputies (in oblasts, krais, autonomous okrugs and federal cities) became senior officials instead of the first secretaries of the CPSU local committees.[2]

After the August putsch of 1991, Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed a decree "On the issues of the activities of executive authorities." According to this document, regional administrations with Head of administration as the senior official in the region. Heads of administrations were appointed and removed from office by the president. However, this rule did not apply to autonomous republics where the highest official was elected directly by voters or by deputies of local parliaments (In 1991, elections were held in 8 of 21 republics). On 24 October 1991, the Supreme Soviet of Russia adopted the law "On the election of the head of administration" and scheduled the elections in a number of Russian regions for December 8 of the same year.

However a week later, on November 1, the Congress of People's Deputies introduced a moratorium on gubernatorial elections until December 1992 and approved the president's right to appoint regional leaders.[3]

Election of the Mayor and Vice Mayor of Moscow were held on 12 June 1991 simultaneously with the election of the President of the RSFSR. Gavriil Popov and Yury Luzhkov won earning 65% of the vote. In June 1992 Popov resigned and Luzhkov became mayor himself.

Election of the Mayor of Leningrad were held on 12 June 1991 simultaneously with the election of the President of the RSFSR. Anatoly Sobchak won with 66% of the vote, representing the democratic anti-communist forces. Sobchak's only rival was Yuri Sevenard. Three month later Leningrad was officially renamed Saint Petersburg.[6]

Presidential elections in Tatarstan were held on 12 June 1991 simultaneously with the election of the President of Russia. Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Tatar Soviet Socialist Republic Mintimer Shaymiyev ran uncontested, earning 70.6% of the vote (while 63.4% of voters attended the election).[5] On July 4 Shaymiyev became first president of Tatarstan.[7]

The first presidential election in Kalmykia was held on 19 October and 3 November 1991. 62.7% of the population participated in the first tour and 57.6% in the second tour.[5] Neither of three candidates could reach 50% of the vote in first or second tour, as the laws required.

Next elections were held in April 1993 with Kirsan Ilyumzhinov becoming President of Kalmykia.

The presidential elections in self-proclaimed Chechen Republic of Ichkeria were held on 27 October 1991. Dzhokhar Dudayev was proclaimed the winner. Elections were scheduled by the "All-National Congress of the Chechen People", which seized power in eastern portions of falling apart Republic of Checheno-Ingushetia. According to official statements, 72% of the adult population of Chechnya came to the precincts, and 90.1% of them voted for Dudayev.[10] Russian-speaking population of Chechnya did not take part in the voting. The Provisional Supreme Council and the Council of Ministers of Checheno-Ingushetia declared elections rigged and refused to recognize their results.[11]

On November 2, the Congress of People's Deputies of Russia refused to recognize the election results.[12] An attempt was made to introduce a state of emergency in Checheno-Ingushetia, but this attempt was unsuccessful. The following year, Russian troops were withdrawn from the republic.[11] In 1994 the First Chechen war began.

The first tour was held on 8 December 1991. A week later the second round revealed the winner: Vladislav Zotin became the first President of Mari El Republic.

Presidential elections in Chuvashia were held on 8 and 22 December 1991. To win in the second round, a candidate needed not only to get more votes than his opponent, but also to get more votes "for" than "against".[9][14][15]

Following candidates' inability to reach 50% of the vote, Chairman of the Supreme Soviet Eduard Kubarev became the interim president, who later used his influence to postpone the new elections and remain as the leader of Chuvashia. Next elections were held only in December 1993.[16]

In 1990, a democratic movement developed in Mordovia, which consisted of the predominantly ethnic Russian urban middle class. The democrats went on a struggle with the CPSU's nomenklatura, mostly of Erzyan ethnicity.

On 25 October 1991 the post of President of Mordovia was introduced by the decree of the Supreme Soviet of the republic. Members of the current government acted as competitors to each other during the campaign, while Vasily Guslyannikov, the leader of the local branch of Democratic Russia, was presented as the only democrat opposing the continuation of nomenklatura's reign.[17] Guslyannikov won the presidential election, which held on December 14 and 22, 1991.

Other candidates were: Deputy Chairmen of the council of ministers Pavel Gruznov and Mikhail Kovshov, other regional officials Nikolay Merkushkin and Sergey Sorokin, member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Russia Nikolay Medvedev and rector of the Mordovian State University Nikolay Makarkin.[17]

Presidential elections in Sakha (Yakutia) were held on 20 December 1991.[18]

The first tour was held on 22 December 1991. None of the six candidates could reach 50% of the vote. Aslan Dzharimov won the presidency defeating Pshimaf Khakuz on 5 January 1992.

The first tour was held on 22 December 1991. None of the four candidates could reach 50% of the vote. The second tour was scheduled on 5 January 1992. Valery Kokov ran uncontested after Felix Kharayev's withdrawal.

The Balkars massively boycotted the elections in pursuance of the decision of the "Congress of the Balkar People". This meeting in November 1991 proclaimed the creation of the "Republic of Balkaria" and formed the "National Council of the Balkar People". Sufiyan Beppayev, deputy commander of the Transcaucasian Military District, was elected its chairman.

The council decided to hold a "referendum" on December 29 among the Balkars on the creation of a new autonomous republic. Voting was organized not only in Balkar and mainly Balkar settlements, but also in Nalchik. The positive expression of the will of the majority of Balkars and their subsequent boycott of the presidential elections (polling stations were not even opened in Balkar villages) allowed the national activists to deny Valery Kokov's right to be called the president of Kabardino-Balkaria.[22]

Presidential elections in Tuva were held on 15 March 1992 despite the moratorium established by the Congress of People's Deputies of Russia. Tuva was proclaimed a sovereign state, the supremacy of Russian laws was denied until 2000 revision of the Constitution of Tuva.[23]

• Parade of sovereignties

• Ivanov, Vitaly (2019). Глава субъекта Российской Федерации. История губернаторов [Head of the subject of the Russian Federation. History of governors] (in Russian). ISBN 978-5-907250-14-7.