Dmitry Azarov has announced his resignation as governor of the Samara region in southern Russia, making him the second regional head to step down this week ahead of gubernatorial elections later this year. This decision was communicated through a video address to residents on the Russian social media website Vkontakte. Vladimir Putin named Tyumen mayor Ruslan Kukharuk as the replacement for Natalia Komarova, who also resigned as governor of the Khanty-Mansi autonomous district in western Siberia after a 14-year tenure. With Azarov’s resignation, Samara will also hold gubernatorial elections in September alongside other Russian federal subjects and annexed Crimea.
Political analysts had been anticipating Azarov’s removal as governor due to his conflicts with regional and federal officials, particularly with State Duma lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein. Similar to Komarova, who was accused of “discrediting” the Russian military for her comments on the invasion of Ukraine, Azarov had been embroiled in local scandals throughout his seven-year tenure. His Instagram account was temporarily blocked in 2021 after a photo of him and a young woman on a private jet emerged, leading to corruption charges against two senior members of his administration. Additional scandals arose during his second term in office, including accusations of falsely identifying a local official and reports of arrests of senior Samara region officials.
In response to Azarov’s resignation, Putin appointed former Tula region Deputy Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev as the new governor of Samara. The reasons behind Azarov’s resignation and potential future career prospects remain unclear, with Kommersant reporting that he has not yet received a new job offer in government. However, law enforcement sources have suggested that Azarov may become the target of a criminal investigation in the near future. These developments come ahead of upcoming gubernatorial elections, with Azarov and Komarova’s resignations being viewed as part of regular cadre changes in preparation for the races.
The successive resignations of Azarov and Komarova have drawn attention to the political landscape in Russia as regional heads step down ahead of the upcoming elections. Azarov’s conflicts with both regional and federal officials have been highlighted by observers, with his tenure as governor marked by various scandals and controversies. The appointment of Ruslan Kukharuk and Vyacheslav Fedorishchev as replacements for Komarova and Azarov respectively indicates a changing of the guard in these regions. The potential for criminal investigations and uncertain future career prospects for Azarov add a layer of intrigue to the circumstances surrounding his resignation and subsequent replacement.
Overall, the recent resignations of Azarov and Komarova, as well as the appointments of new governors in Samara and the Khanty-Mansi autonomous district, reflect ongoing political changes and preparations for gubernatorial elections in Russia. The controversies and scandals that have surrounded Azarov’s tenure as governor have contributed to his decision to step down, while the involvement of law enforcement in potential investigations adds a further element of uncertainty to his future. As regional heads resign and are replaced, the political landscape in Russia continues to evolve, with implications for governance and leadership in these territories moving forward.
