Gubernatorial elections in 1991 and 1992 took place in 11 federal subjects of Russia. Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Tatarstan, Kalmykia, Mari El, Mordovia, Sakha and Chuvashia held their first elections in 1991. In Adygea and Kabardino-Balkaria second tours were held after the New Year celebrations. Tuva was the only one region of the Russian Federation to held its first presidential election in 1992, ignoring the year-long moratorium introduced by Russian parliament in late 1991.

In Adygea, Mari El, Tatarstan and Sakha, the language qualification was applied at the elections, that is, the candidates were required to know the language of the titular ethnic group.

Background 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.

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.

Race summary Region Leadership before election Election day Candidates Result Moscow Gavriil Popov, chairman of the city councilYury Luzhkov, chairman of the executive committee 12 June Gavriil Popov elected mayor Leningrad Anatoly Sobchak, chairman of the city councilAleksandr Shchelkanov, chairman of the executive committee 12 June Anatoly Sobchak elected mayor Tatar SSR Mintimer Shaimiev, chairman of the Supreme SovietMukhammat Sabirov, premier 12 June Mintimer Shaimiev elected presidentKalmyk SSRVladimir Basanov, chairman of the Supreme SovietBatyr Mikhailov, premier 19 October (first round)Election results annulled, as none of the candidates had reached 50% of the vote 3 November (runoff) Chechnya disputed 27 October Dzhokhar Dudayev (VDP) 90.1% Dzhokhar Dudayev elected presidentMari SSRVladislav Zotin, chairman of the Supreme SovietGennady Petrov, premier 8 December (first round)Vladislav Zotin elected president 14 December (runoff)Chuvash SSREduard Kubarev, chairman of the Supreme SovietNikolay Zaytsev, premier 8 December (first round)Election results annulled, as none of the candidates had reached 50% of the vote 22 December (runoff)Mordovian SSRNikolay Biryukov, chairman of the Supreme SovietAnatoly Paulov, premier 14 December (first round)Vasily Guslyannikov elected president 22 December (runoff) Yakut–Sakha SSR Mikhail Nikolayev, chairman of the Supreme SovietKliment Ivanov, premier 20 December Mikhail Nikolayev elected presidentSSR AdygeaAslan Dzharimov, chairman of the Supreme SovietMugdin Tlekhas, chairman of the executive committee 22 December (first round)Aslan Dzharimov elected president 5 January 1992 (runoff)Kabardino-Balkarian SSRKhachim Karmokov, chairman of the Supreme SovietGeorgy Cherkesov, premier 22 December (first round)Valery Kokov elected president 5 January 1992 (runoff) Tuva Kaadyr-ool Bicheldey, chairman of the Supreme SovietSherig-ool Oorzhak, premier 15 March 1992 Sherig-ool Oorzhak elected president

Adygea

The first round was held on 22 December 1991. None of the six candidates could reach 50% of the vote. Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Adygea Aslan Dzharimov won the presidency defeating associate professor Pshimaf Khakuz of Krasnodar Polytechnic Institute in a runoff which held on 5 January 1992. Other candidates were people's deputy of Russia Aslanbiy Khutyz, deputy chairman of Maykop City Council Boris Merzakulov and director of Adygea Pedagogical College Kazbek Achmiz. Candidate First round Second round Aslan Dzharimov 39.75% 69.4% Pshimaf Khakuz 17.28% 23.4% Aslanbiy Khutyz 9.31% Boris Merzakulov 8.28% Kazbek Achmiz 4.39%

Chechnya

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. 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.

On November 2, the Congress of People's Deputies of Russia refused to recognize the election results. 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 and Dudayev's secessionist government obtained full power over Chechnya until the First Chechen war broke out in 1994.

Chuvashia

A was held in Chuvashia on 8 December 1991. Former communist nomenklatura was represented by Leonid Prokopyev, former chairman of the Chuvash SSR council of ministers (1975–89). He won a plurality in the first round, surpassing activist of "Chuvash National Revival" movement, member of the Supreme Soviet Atner Khuzangai, Chairman of the Supreme Soviet Eduard Kubarev and leader of agricultural workers' union Pyotr Ivantayev. To win in the runoff, which held on 22 December 1991, a candidate needed to gather more than 50% of the vote. As neither Prokopyev, nor Khuzangai won, the presidency remained vacant until December 1993, when former Justice Minister of Russia Nikolay Fyodorov won the recall election. Candidate Running mate Party First round Second round % Atner Khuzangai Vladimir Arefyev Chuvash National Revival 20.2% 46.42 Anatoly Fadeyev 28.3% 43.13 Nikolay Kurchatov Democratic Alternative 13.74% Pyotr Ivantayev Aleksandr Malyutin Peasant Union 13.2% Against all 19.6% 10.45 Invalid ballots 5.0% Turnout 58.6% 56.7

Kabardino-Balkaria

The first round was held on 22 December 1991. None of the four candidates could reach 50% of the vote. The second round was scheduled on 5 January 1992. Deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers of Kabardino-Balkaria Valery Kokov ran uncontested after trucking company director Felix Kharayev withdrew his candidacy. Chairman of the Supreme Soviet Khachim Karmokov placed third and did not qualify for the runoff.

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 majority-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.

Candidate First round % Second round % Valery Kokov 39.30 88.86 Felix Kharayev 19.75 Khachim Karmokov 14.52 Pyotr Ivanov 13.5 Against all 11.11 Invalid ballots 0.03 Total 100 Turnout 53.6 53.80

Kalmykia

The first presidential election in Kalmykia was held on 19 October and 3 November 1991. 62.13% of the population participated in the first round and 57.6% in the second round. Neither of three candidates, chairman of the Council of Ministers Batyr Mikhailov, Supreme Soviet chairman Vladimir Basanov or head of Chernozemelsky District administration Vladimir Chumudov could reach 50% of the vote in first round or in the runoff, as the laws required.

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

Candidate First round Second round Batyr Mikhailov 33.79% 45.3% Vladimir Basanov 32.18% 40.37% Vladimir Chumudov Against all Invalid ballots

Leningrad

Election of the mayor of Leningrad were held on 12 June 1991 simultaneously with the election of the President of the RSFSR. Chairman of Leningrad City Council Anatoly Sobchak won with 66% of the vote, representing the democratic anti-communist forces. Sobchak's only rival was Yuri Sevenard, member of the Leningrad City Council, director of Lengidroenergospetsstroy industrial construction association. Three months later Leningrad was officially renamed Saint Petersburg following a referendum.

Candidate Running mate Votes % Anatoly Sobchak Vyacheslav Shcherbakov 66.13 Yuri Sevenard Yury Denisov 25.72Against all 7.15Invalid ballots 1.03Total 100Registered voters/turnout 64.89

Mari El

The first round was held on 8 December 1991. No candidate won a majority. Chairman of the Supreme Soviet Vladislav Zotin became the first president of Mari El Republic after winning in the runoff on 14 December. His opponents were historian Aleksandr Kazimov, supported by Democratic Russia, and director of Yoshkar-Ola shoe factory Anatoly Popov, affiliated with Mari Ushem movement.

CandidateRunning mateFirst roundSecond round Votes % Votes %Vladislav Zotin 48.09 205,363 58.85 V. Aristov 11.19 52,406 15.02Aleksandr Kazimov 11.1Against all 84,120 24.10Invalid ballots 7,096 2.03Total 348,985 100

Mordovia

Presidential election was held in Mordovia on 14 December 1991 to determine the first president of the Mordovian Soviet Socialist Republic. As none of the candidates secured the majority, a second round of voting was held on 22 December, won by engineer and political activist Vasily Guslyannikov.

The presidency was introduced following a constitutional amendment in October 1991, initiated by the Supreme Soviet chairman and nominal head of state Nikolay Biryukov. Although he soon emerged as a frontrunner, Biryukov was not fully backed by the post-communist elite and a number of minor candidates with similar nomenklatura background offered their candidacies as well.

The pro-Yeltsin, reformist camp centered around their nominee, Supreme Soviet member Vasily Guslyannikov, who had received attention after his alleged assassination attempt in December 1990. Although Guslyannikov had a strong base among intelligentsia and campaigned actively in rural areas, he was not taken seriously by establishment candidates.

In the second round, Biryukov and Guslyannikov were effectively representing stability and radical change. Guslyannikov's victory was secured by the electorate of the losing candidates, primarily Russian-speaking and opposing the idea of Biryukov coming to power. Furthermore, the assassination attempt had strengthened Guslyannikov's image as a fighter, which outweighed his managerial inexperience in the eyes of voters.

Candidates Source: Nikolay Biryukov, chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Mordovian SSR Valentin Tarasov, deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers Pavel Gruznov, deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers Vladimir Volkov, member of the Supreme Soviet