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.Артур Парфенчиков избран главой Карелии 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.Что сказал на прощание уходящий с губернаторского поста Александр Худилайнен. 15.02.2017 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.Карельский перешелец
Federal Bailiffs Service Director Artur Parfenchikov was appointed acting Head of Karelia,Встреча с Артуром Парфенчиковым. 15.02.2017 Kremlin.ru among other mentioned candidates were Head of the Federal Agency for Forestry Ivan Valentik and Head of Karelian FSSP Andrey Galyamov.СМИ сообщили о возможной отставке главы Карелии 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.День выборов: как в Карелии "друг Путина" конкурировал с другом Медведева One of main republican opposition parties, Yabloko declined to nominate a candidate, citing inability to pass through a municipal filter.«Яблоко» отказалось участвовать в выборах главы Карелии
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 BesednyBorn 1987 (age 30)Liberal Democratic PartyMember of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of KareliaYelena GnyotovaSupported Artur ParfenchikovДва кандидата на пост главы Карелии снялись с выборов в пользу Артура ПарфенчиковаBorn 1962 (age 55)Party of GrowthCommissioner for the protection of the rights of entrepreneursin the Republic of KareliaOlga IlyukovaBorn 1958 (age 58)Patriots of RussiaRetiredArtur ParfenchikovBorn 1964 (age 52)United RussiaIndependent, nominated by United Russiaacting Head of Republic, former Director of the Federal Bailiffs Service (2008-2017)Irina PetelyaevaBorn 1959 (age 58)A Just RussiaMember of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia, former Member of State Duma (2016)Nikolay TarakanovSupported Artur ParfenchikovBorn 1977 (age 40)RodinaDirector of "АК1126", former Member of Petrozavodsk City CouncilYevgeny UlyanovBorn 1977 (age 39)Communist PartyMember 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 UniversityАртур Парфенчиков примет участие в выборах главы Карелии
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 DatePoll sourceParfenchikovPetelyaevaUlyanovBesednyTarakanovGnyotovaIlyukovaUndecidedAbstentionSpoil the Ballot25 July–5 August 2017Megapolis38%15%4%4%2.4%1%0.2%35.4%––17–25 July 2017FOM43%3%2%1%1%<1%<1%34%14%1%
Result CandidatePartyVotes%Artur ParfenchikovUnited Russia95,82266.11%Irina PetelyaevaA Just Russia28,20318.57%Yevgeny UlyanovCommunist Party18,94212.47%Yevgeny BesednyLiberal Democratic Party8,8775.84%Valid ballots151,84497.20%Invalid ballots4,3712.80%Total156,215100%Registered voters / Turnout534,01529.26%Source:
Aleksandr Rakitin was appointed to the Federation Council, replacing incumbent Senator Sergey Katanandov.
See also 2017 Russian gubernatorial elections
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