Natalia Komarova, who has served as the governor of western Siberia’s Khanty-Mansi autonomous district for 14 years, has announced her resignation. This is part of regular cadre changes that typically occur ahead of regional elections. President Vladimir Putin will need to sign an executive order accepting Komarova’s resignation for it to become official. She is moving on to another job after a long tenure in office. Putin has named five new acting governors to replace those who have been promoted to federal office after his fifth term in the Kremlin.
Khanty-Mansi is one of the regions in Russia that will hold gubernatorial elections in September, along with dozens of other regions and annexed Crimea. Komarova, a former lower-house State Duma lawmaker for the ruling United Russia party, was appointed as governor in 2010 and re-appointed twice in 2015 and 2020. She was the third woman to govern a federal subject in modern Russia. During a meeting with constituents last fall, Komarova faced criticism from pro-war activists for her comments about not needing to invade Ukraine in 2022. In January 2023, she was caught on a hot mic boasting about an alleged corruption scheme involving state contracts, leading to widespread backlash and accusations of damaging the governor’s image.
Komarova’s resignation marks the end of a long tenure as governor and the beginning of a new chapter in her career. The decision comes as part of routine changes in leadership ahead of regional elections in Khanty-Mansi and other regions in Russia. President Putin will need to formally accept her resignation for it to take effect. The leaked video of Komarova discussing corruption involving state contracts has raised questions about her conduct while in office. Despite the controversy, she has served as governor for over a decade and has been one of the few women to hold such a position in Russia.
The appointment of five new acting governors by Putin indicates a shift in leadership in various regions following his fifth term in office. Komarova’s resignation adds to the ongoing changes in leadership as the country prepares for regional elections. Her tenure has been marked by both accomplishments and controversies, including her comments on the invasion of Ukraine and the leaked video involving corruption allegations. The resignation of a long-serving governor like Komarova has significant implications for the region and raises questions about the future of leadership in Khanty-Mansi.
As one of the few women to govern a federal subject in modern Russia, Komarova’s resignation will likely have an impact on the region and its residents. Her departure comes amid a wave of cadre changes ahead of regional elections, with President Putin appointing new acting governors to replace those who have been promoted. The leaked video and controversies surrounding Komarova’s tenure have overshadowed her accomplishments as governor. The upcoming elections in Khanty-Mansi and other regions will be closely watched as new leadership takes over and the political landscape continues to evolve in Russia.
