# 2017 Karelian head election

The 2017 Republic of Karelia head election took place on 10 September 2017, on common election day. Acting Head Artur Parfenchikov was elected for his first full term. It was the first direct Karelia head election in 15 years since Sergey Katanandov won his second term in April 2002.

## Background

Head of Karelia Alexander Khudilainen was appointed in May 2012. On 8 February 2017 reports emerged that Khudilainen wouldn't run for a second term, and on 15 February he announced his resignation. Khudilainen allegedly wanted to seek reelection, however, several factors attributed to his resignation, including conflicts with local elite, poor ratings and problems with emergency shelter resettlement program.
Federal Bailiffs Service Director Artur Parfenchikov was appointed acting Head of Karelia, among other mentioned candidates were Head of the Federal Agency for Forestry Ivan Valentik and Head of Karelian FSSP Andrey Galyamov. Parfenchikov later announced his run for a full term in office.
Regional leader of A Just Russia Irina Petelyaeva initially was rumoured to be Parfenchikov's candidate for a Federation Council, in exchange the party didn't field State Duma member Anatoly Greshnevikov against acting Governor Dmitry Mironov in Yaroslavl Oblast gubernatorial election, however, the arrangement feel through and Petelyaeva launched her campaign. One of main republican opposition parties, Yabloko declined to nominate a candidate, citing inability to pass through a municipal filter.

## Candidates

Only political parties can nominate candidates for head election in Karelia, self-nomination is not possible. However, candidate is not obliged to be a member of the nominating party. Candidate for Head of Karelia should be a Russian citizen and at least 30 years old. Each candidate in order to be registered is required to collect at least 7% of signatures of members and heads of municipalities (88-92 signatures). Also gubernatorial candidates present 3 candidacies to the Federation Council and election winner later appoints one of the presented candidates.

### Registered

| Candidate | Party | Office |
| Yevgeny Besedny Born 1987 (age 30) | Liberal Democratic Party | Member of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia |
| Yelena Gnyotova Born 1962 (age 55) | Party of Growth | Commissioner for the protection of the rights of entrepreneurs in the Republic of Karelia |
| Olga Ilyukova Born 1958 (age 58) | Patriots of Russia | Retired |
| Artur Parfenchikov Born 1964 (age 52) | United Russia | acting Head of Republic, former Director of the Federal Bailiffs Service (2008-2017) |
| Irina Petelyaeva Born 1959 (age 58) | A Just Russia | Member of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia, former Member of State Duma (2016) |
| Nikolay Tarakanov Born 1977 (age 40) | Rodina | Director of "АК1126", former Member of Petrozavodsk City Council |
| Yevgeny Ulyanov Born 1977 (age 39) | Communist Party | Member of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia, aide to State Duma member Zhores Alfyorov |

### Failed to qualify

* Igor Alpeyev (People Against Corruption), businessman
* Maria Avisheva (Young Russia), Co-Chair of the Petrozavodsk Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs

### Eliminated in primary

* Anna Lopatkina (United Russia), Member of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia, chair of ONF regional executive committee
* Anatoly Voronin (United Russia), Rector of Petrozavodsk State University

### Declined

* Galina Shirshina (Yabloko), former Mayor of Petrozavodsk (2013-2015)
* Emilia Slabunova (Yabloko), Member of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia, chair of Yabloko party

### Candidates for the Federation Council

Incumbent Senator Sergey Katanandov (United Russia) was not renominated.
* Yevgeny Besedny (LDPR):
** Aleksey Orlov, Member of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia
** Yelizaveta Vasilyeva, Member of Petrozavodsk City Council, charity foundation director
** Timur Zornyakov, Member of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia
* Artur Parfenchikov (UR):
** Vitaly Krasulin, Member of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia
** Alexander Rakitin, Head of FSB Office in Western Military District
** Elissan Shandalovich, Chairman of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia
* Irina Petelyaeva (SR):
** Yury Davydov, Head of Chupa Urban District
** Valentina Polishchuk, chair of Russian Red Cross Society Karelian branch
** Larisa Stepanova, Member of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia
* Yevgeny Ulyanov (CPRF):
** Tatyana Bogdanova, Member of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia
** Svetlana Loginova, former Member of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia (2011-2016)
** Galina Vasilyeva, member of Petrozavodsk City Council

## Opinion polls

| Date | Poll source | Parfenchikov | Petelyaeva | Ulyanov | Besedny | Tarakanov | Gnyotova | Ilyukova | Undecided | Abstention | Spoil the Ballot |
| 25 July–5 August 2017 | Megapolis | 38% | 15% | 4% | 4% | 2.4% | 1% | 0.2% | 35.4% | – | – |
| 17–25 July 2017 | FOM | 43% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 1% | <1% | <1% | 34% | 14% | 1% |

## Result

| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | Artur Parfenchikov | United Russia | 95,822 | 66.11% |
| | Irina Petelyaeva | A Just Russia | 28,203 | 18.57% |
| | Yevgeny Ulyanov | Communist Party | 18,942 | 12.47% |
| | Yevgeny Besedny | Liberal Democratic Party | 8,877 | 5.84% |
| Valid ballots | Valid ballots | Valid ballots | 151,844 | 97.20% |
| Invalid ballots | Invalid ballots | Invalid ballots | 4,371 | 2.80% |
| Total | Total | Total | 156,215 | 100% |
| Registered voters / Turnout | Registered voters / Turnout | Registered voters / Turnout | 534,015 | 29.26% |
| Source: |||||
Aleksandr Rakitin was appointed to the Federation Council, replacing incumbent Senator Sergey Katanandov.