# 1997 Russian gubernatorial elections

Gubernatorial elections in 1997 took place in 14 regions of the Russian Federation.

## Background

In January–March 1997, the process of holding first gubernatorial elections in all regions of Russia, which began in September 1996, was practically completed. By January 1, six governors-appointees remained in power: Leonid Roketsky in Tyumen Oblast, Yury Lyashko in Amur Oblast, Bolot Ayushiyev in ABAO, Nikolai Sevryugin in Tula Oblast, Mikhail Kislyuk in Kemerovo Oblast and Anatoly Yakimov in Evenkia. By April only Kislyuk remained in office, instead of whom Aman Tuleyev was appointed on June 30.
In the first quarter of 1997, re-elections of presidents of four republics (Mari El, Adygea, Kabardino-Balkaria, Tuva) and presidential elections in the breakaway Chechen Republic of Ichkeria were also held. In the summer, early elections were held for the governors of Nizhny Novgorod and Irkutsk Oblasts after resignations of Boris Nemtsov and Yury Nozhikov, and in the fall the head of Kemerovo Oblast administration was elected.
By decision of the legislative assemblies, re-elections of the head of the administration of Oryol Oblast and the head of the Komi Republic were held six months ahead of schedule. In December, the re-election in Chuvashia and the first election of the Head of the Altai Republic took place.

## Results

| Federal Subject | Date | Incumbent | Incumbent status | Candidates | Governor-elect |
| Adygea | 12 January | Aslan Dzharimov | Elected 1992 | Y Aslan Dzharimov 57.80% Aslanbiy Sovmiz 19.51% Kazbek Tsiku (CPRF) 15.76% | Aslan Dzharimov |
| Kabardino-Balkaria | 12 January | Valery Kokov | Elected 1992 | Y Valery Kokov 99.35% (ran unopposed) | Valery Kokov |
| Agin-Buryat AO (revote) | 23 February | Bolot Ayushiyev | Appointed 1996, removed on 6 February 1997 | Y Bair Zhamsuyev (OKS) 44.56% Yury Dondokov 33.03% Bato-Tsyren Abiduyev 9.39% Namdak Zhambalov 8.71% | Bair Zhamsuyev (OKS) |
| Tuva | 16 March | Sherig-ool Oorzhak | Elected 1992 | Y Sherig-ool Oorzhak 70.61% Kaadyr-ool Bicheldey 10.13% Aleksandr Kashin (LDPR) 8.20% | Sherig-ool Oorzhak |
| Evenkia (revote) | 16 March | Anatoly Yakimov | Appointed 1991 | Y Aleksandr Bokovikov (NPSR) 49.00% Anatoly Yakimov (OKS) 40.45% | Aleksandr Bokovikov (NPSR) |
| Amur Oblast (revote) | 23 March | Yury Lyashko | Appointed 1996 | Y Anatoly Belonogov (CPRF/NPSR) 60.51% Yury Lyashko (OKS) 24.41% Vera Sebina (LDPR) 2.32% Aleksandr Surat 2.07% | Anatoly Belonogov (CPRF/NPSR) |
| Tula Oblast | 23 March | Nikolai Sevryugin | Appointed 1995 | Y Vasily Starodubtsev (CPRF/NPSR) 62.82% Viktor Sokolovsky 15.08% Nikolai Sevryugin (NDR) 4.76% | Vasily Starodubtsev (CPRF/NPSR) |
| Nizhny Novgorod Oblast | 29 June, 13 July | Boris Nemtsov | Resigned from office | Y Ivan Sklyarov 40.95% / 52% Gennady Khodyrev (CPRF) 37.84% / 42% Vadim Bulavinov 8.15% Nina Zvereva 6.88% | Ivan Sklyarov |
| Irkutsk Oblast | 27 July | Yury Nozhikov | Resigned from office | Y Boris Govorin (NDR/OKS) 53.54% Sergey Levchenko (CPRF/NPSR) 20.02% Viktor Mashinsky 14.84% Ivan Shchadov 7.72% | Boris Govorin (NDR/OKS) |
| Kemerovo Oblast | 19 October | Aman Tuleyev | Appointed 1997 | Y Aman Tuleyev (NPSR) 94.54% Viktor Medikov 2.08% Nina Ostanina 0.38% | Aman Tuleyev (NPSR) |
| Oryol Oblast | 26 October | Yegor Stroyev | Elected 1993 | Y Yegor Stroyev 95.1% | Yegor Stroyev (NDR) |
| Komi | 30 November | Yury Spiridonov | Elected 1994 | Y Yury Spiridonov (NDR) 57.19% Rita Chistokhodova 19.83% Vasily Kuznetsov (CPRF) 9.17% | Yury Spiridonov (NDR) |
| Altai Republic | 14 December | Vladilen Volkov | PM from August 1997 | Y Semyon Zubakin (DVR) 23.5% Yury Antaradonov 23.28% Viktor Romashkin (CPRF) 17.62% Vladimir Petrov 13.89% Vladilen Volkov 11.97% | Semyon Zubakin (DVR) |
| Chuvashia | 28 December | Nikolay Fyodorov/Enver Ablyakimov | Elected 1993 | Y Nikolay Fyodorov / Lev Kurakov 56.70% Valentin Shurchanov / Nikolay Grigoryev (CPRF) 34.85% | Nikolay Fyodorov / Lev Kurakov |