Khabarovsk Scraps Direct Mayoral Elections

Oct. 20, 2026 The Khabarovsk city government building. Andshel Lawmakers in the Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk have voted to abolish direct mayoral elections in favor of an appointment system controlled by the regional governor, the Interfax news agency reported Tuesday, leaving Russia with just two major cities where voters can still elect their mayors. “In accordance with federal law, city Duma lawmakers will elect the head of the city based on candidates presented by the governor,” the Khabarovsk regional assembly said in a statement quoted by Interfax. The move comes weeks after Khabarovsk’s Mayor Sergei Kravchuk stepped down after winning a seat in the lower-house State Duma in parliamentary elections held last month. Khabarovsk is the latest city in Russia to cancel direct mayoral elections as part of a nationwide campaign launched by the Kremlin in the late 2000s to exert greater control over local government. Dozens of regional capitals have since eliminated direct mayoral elections, triggering protests in some places. In 2024, the State Duma passed controversial local government reform which, among other things, allows regional lawmakers to abolish mayoral elections to create a so-called “unified system of public authority.” The law grants smaller municipalities the right to keep direct elections. Abakan in Siberia’s republic of Khakassia and Anadyr in Far East Russia’s Chukotka autonomous region are now the only remaining regional capitals to retain direct mayoral elections. Read more about: Khabarovsk , Politics , Regions Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Chinese Workers Protest Unpaid Wages in Russia’s Far East At least 200 employees of the Russian-Chinese contractor Petro-Hehua marched through the city of Komsomolsk-na-Amure on Sunday, demanding back payments... 2 Min read News Analysis Russians to Vote in Regional Elections the Kremlin Can’t Fully Script Some of this week’s races might see genuine competition instead of the scripted displays of loyalty that typically define Russian elections. 5 Min read Feature From Rakhimov to Khabirov: How Bashkortostan Became the Seedbed of Russia’s Indigenous-Led Protests Five years after the Kushtau protests, The Moscow Times explores the political context that set the stage for the protests and how they unfolded. 8 Min read Putin Appoints 5 New Regional Governors The former regional heads were promoted to federal office earlier this week as part of a wider government reshuffle. 2 Min read