On September 13, Russians will be voting in various local elections, including 18 gubernatorial elections, 11 regional parliamentary elections, and 22 local council elections. These elections are taking place in the midst of several domestic and foreign crises, including the recent poisoning of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, ongoing protests in the Far East, protests in neighboring Belarus, and the coronavirus pandemic. This will also be the first election after the constitutional plebiscite in June, and may serve as a regional response to the results of that plebiscite. Nikolai Petrov, Regina Smyth, and Maxim Trudolyubov discussed the results of the elections and their possible impact on the current political landscape in Russia.
Speakers:
Nikolai Petrov - Former Kennan Regional Exchange Scholar;
Senior Research Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House; Professor, Political Science, Higher School of Economics in Moscow
Regina Smyth - Fellow; Professor of Political Science, Indiana University
Maxim Trudolyubov - Senior Advisor; Editor-in-Chief, Russia File;
Editor-at-Large, Meduza
Moderator:
Matthew Rojansky - Director, Kennan Institute
