RUSSIA AND
EURASIA:
A GEO-POLITICAL
PROFILE
The following is a brief compilation of information about the political characteristics of the 15 states of the former Soviet Union. It is being updated on a continual basis.
ARMENIA:
Size: 11,490 square miles.
Capital: Yerevan.
Population: 3.41 million
(93% Armenian; 3% Azerbaijani;
2.3% Russian; 1.7% Kurdish).
Independence: Parliament declares
sovereignty, Aug. 23, 1990;
popular referendum approved
Sept. 21, 1991.
President: Robert Kocharian, former president of Nagorno-
Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, elected in 2nd round, March
30, 1998 w/ 59.5% of vote over Communist Party candidate
Karen Demirchyan who gets 40.5%.
Parliament: single chamber National Council w/ 131 deputies
serving 4 year terms; last elected May 30, 1999.
* Fought war with Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh region, 1988 to 1994, retains de facto control of region.
Member of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
AZERBAIJAN:
Size: 33,340 square miles.
Capital: Baku.
Population: 7.57 million
(82.7% Azerbaijani;
5.6% Russian; 5.6%
Armenian; 3.2% Dagestani;
2.9% other).
Independence: Parliament declares sovereignty,
Sept. 23, 1989, and then full independence,
Aug. 30, 1991.
President: Gaidar Aliev, former member of CPSU Politburo; takes
control from Ebulfez Elcibey in coup, June 18, 1993, runs
unopposed Oct. 3, 1993; re-elected Oct. 11, 1998 w/ 78.9%
over Ehtibar Mamedov (Azerbaijan National Independence
Party) who gets 11.6%.
Parliament: Milli Mejlis (National Assembly) w/ 125 deputies
serving 5 year terms; last elected Nov. 5, 2000, heavily
manipulated by government.
Inactive member of CIS; founding member of GUUAM.
Administrative Units of Azerbaijan
Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic:
Size: 2,120 square miles. Capital: Nakhichevan.
Population: 295,000 (primarily Azerbaijani).
Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Region:
Size: 1,700 square miles. Capital: Stepanakert.
Population: 188,000 (75.9% Armenian; 23% Azerbaijani);
* Secessionist movement seeks unification with Armenia.
BELARUS:
Size: 80,134 square miles.
Capital: Minsk
(also capital of the CIS).
Population: 10.2 million
(79.4% Belarussian; 11.9% Russian;
4.2% Polish; 2.4% Ukranian; 1.4%
Jewish).
Independence: Supreme Soviet declares sovereignty, July 27,
1990, and full independence Aug. 25, 1991.
President: Alexandr Lukashenko, elected July 10, 1994 with 80%
of vote; term extended by 2 years until year 2001 by
referendum on Nov. 24, 1996 which passes with 70.5% of votes
cast (84% of eligible voters).
Parliament: single chamber Supreme Soviet w/ 260 deputies
serving 5 year terms; election status in doubt.
Founding member of CIS; member of Union of Russia and Belarus.
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ESTONIA:
Size: 17,413 square miles.
Capital: Tallinn.
Population: 1.6 million
(61.5% Estonian; 30.3% Russian;
3.17% Ukrainian; 1.8% Belarusian;
3.23% other).
Independence: Parliament first
enacts sovereignty, May 18, 1989,
and then full ind., March 30, 1990;
approved by 79% of voters
in popular plebiscite, March 3, 1991.
President: Lennart Meri, elected by parliament,
Oct. 5, 1992,
re-elected Sept. 20, 1996 by Est. electoral college (196-
126-44) both times over former pres. and former First Sec. of
Estonian CP, Arnold Ruutel.
Parliament: single chamber Riigikogu w/ 101 deputies serving
3 or 4 year terms (not constitutionally mandated); last
elected March 5, 1995.
Not a member of CIS.
GEORGIA:
Size: 27,000 square miles.
Capital: Tbilisi.
Population: 5.5 million
(68.8% Georgian; 9% Armenian;
7.4% Russian; 5.1% Azerbaijani;
3.2% Ossetian; 1.7% Abkhazian).
Independence: Popular referendum
approved by nearly unanimous vote, March 3, 1991; parliament
votes for independence, April 9, 1991;
President: Eduard Shevardnadze, initially appointed head of
military council (March 9, 1992) wins 90% endorsement in
single candidate popular referendum, Oct. 11, 1992; wins
first contested election w/ 70% of vote over former
CP leader Dzhumber Patiashvili, Nov. 5, 1995; wins
re-elecion April 9, 2000 w/ 79.8% of vote over
Patiashvili (16.7%).
Parliament: single chamber legislature w/ 235 deputies
serving 4 year terms; last elected Oct. 30 and Nov. 14, 1999.
Member of CIS (not all organizational aspects); founding
member of GUUAM.
Administrative Units of Georgia
Abkhazian Autonomous Republic:
Size: 3,320 square miles. Capital: Sukhumi
Population: 521,000 (17.1% Abkhazian; 43.9% Georgian;
16.4% Russian).
* Currently under control of Abkhaz separatist movement
supported by Russian troops
Adjarian Autonomous Republic:
Size: 1,160 square miles. Capital: Batumi.
Population: 375,000 (80.1% Georgian; 9.8% Russian;
4.6% Armenian).
South Ossetian Autonomous Region:
Size: 1,505 square miles. Capital: Tskhinvali.
Population: 98,000 (66.4% Ossetian; 28.8% Georgian).
* Separatist movement supported by both Russians
and North Ossetians.
KAZAKSTAN:
Size: 1,049,155 square miles.
Capital: Astana (formerly
Tselinograd).
Population: 16.5 million
(41.9% Kazak; 37% Russian; 5.2%
Ukrainian; 4.7% German;
2.1% Uzbek; 2% Tatar; 7.1% “other”,
including over 100 nationalities).
Independence: Parl. declares sovereignty, Oct. 25, 1990, and
ind. Dec. 16, 1991.
President: Nursultan Nazarbeyev, former First Sec. of Kazak
CP; elected Chairman of Kazak Supreme Soviet, Feb. 22, 1990;
only candidate in popular vote, Dec. 1, 1991; term extended
until 2000 in popular referendum on April 29, 1995, but stands
for re-election Jan. 10, 1999, wins 79.8% of vote over
Serikbolsyn Abdilin who gets 11.7%.
Parliament: Senate w/ 47 indirectly-elected members (elected
Dec. 5, 1995), and Majlis w/ 67 deputies serving 4 year
terms; last elected Oct. 10, 1999.
Member of CIS.
KYRGYZSTAN:
Size: 76,470 square miles.
Capital: Bishkek.
Population: 4.856 million[1]
(59% Kyrgyz; 17% Russian; 14%
Uzbek; 2.5% Ukrainian; 2.4%
German; 2% Tatar; 1999 census).
Independence: Parl. declares
sovereignty, Dec. 12, 1990; parliament
votes for full ind. by vote of 263 to 2, Aug. 31, 1991;
President: Askar Akaev, non communist, elected by parliament,
Oct. 1990; re-elected w/ 74.2% of vote to Omurbek Tekebaev
who gets 13.89%; turnout 74%.
Parliament: Jogorku Kenesh w/ 105 deputies total; 35 serve
in Assembly
of Legislatures, 70 serve in Assembly of
Representatives for 5 year terms; last elected
Feb. 5, 1995.
Member of CIS.
LATVIA:
Size: 24,595 square miles.
Capital: Riga.
Population: 2.73 million
(51.8% Latvian; 33.8% Russian;
4.5% Belarussian; 3.4%
Ukrainian; 2.3% Polish; 4.2% other).
Independence: Parl. declares sovereignty, July 29, 1989, full
ind., May 4, 1990; popular plebiscite for ind. by 87.5%,
March 3, 1991.
President: Vaira Vike-Freiberga, former Canadian citizen and
returned emigre, elected by parliament, June 17, 1999;
serves 4 year term;
Parliament: single-chamber Saeima w/ 100 deputies serving
4 year terms; last elected Oct. 3, 1998.
Not a member of CIS.
LITHUANIA:
Size: 25,170 square miles.
Capital: Vilnius.
Population: 3.81 million
(80% Lithuanian; 8.6% Russian;
7.7% Polish; 3.6% other).
Independence: Supreme Soviet declares
sovereignty, May 18, 1989, vote of 124 to 6 for full ind.,
March 11, 1990; popular referendum approved, Feb. 9, 1991.
President: Valdas Adamkus, former American citizen and
returned emigre, wins directly-elected presidency, Feb. 4,
1998 w/ 50.3% of vote over former Prosecutor General
Arturas Paulauskas who gets 49.7%; serves 4 year term.
Parliament: single chamber Seimas w/ 141 deputies serving
4 year terms; last elected Nov. 10, 1996.
Not a member of CIS.
MOLDOVA:
Size: 13,000 square miles.
Capital: Chisinau (Kishinev).
Population: 4.45 million
(64.5% Moldovan; 13.8%
Ukrainian; 13% Russian;
3.5% Gagauzi; 2% Bulgarian;
1.5% Jewish; 1.7% other).
Independence: Parl. votes for sovereignty, June 21, 1990, full
ind., Aug. 27, 1991.
President: Petru Lucinschi, former member of CPSU Secretariat,
later speaker of Mol. parl., defeats Pres. Mircea Snegur
in general election on Dec. 1, 1996, 54% to 46%.
Parliament: single chamber legislature w/ 101 deputies
serving 4 year terms; last elected March 22, 1998.
Russian separatists control Trans Dniestr region,
supported by Russian army, communists, Cossacks;
Member of CIS; founding member of GUUAM
RUSSIA:
Size: 6.6 million square miles.
Capital: Moscow.
Population: 144,990,000[2]
(approximately 81.5% Russian; 3.8%
Tatar; 3% Ukrainian; 1.2% Chuvash;
10.5% other);
Independence: Supreme Soviet declares sovereignty over its
territory and natural resources, June 8, 1990.
President: Vladimir Putin, appointed acting president by
Boris Yeltsin who resigns on Dec. 31, 1999; elected w/
52% of vote over CPRF’s Gennadii Zyuganov who gets 29%,
March 26, 2000.
Parliament: Federal
Assembly divided into Federation
Council w/ 176 members (indirectly elected or appointed),
and State Duma w/ 450 members serving for 4 year terms;
last elected Dec. 19, 1999.
Founding member of CIS.
The Russian Republics:
Republic of Adygea:
Size: 1,150 square miles. Capital: Maikop.
Population: 432,000;
President: Aslan Dzharimov, re-elected Jan. 12, 1997 w/
57.9% of vote; turnout 56.2%.
Chairman of State Council: Yevgenii Salov.
Republic of Altai:
Size: 35,740 square miles. Capital: Gorno-Altaysk.
Population: 192,000;
Chairman of Government: Vladilen Volkov (elected
by legislature 8-19-97 upon death of predecessor).
Chairman of State Assembly: Daniil Tabaev
Republic of Bashkortostan:
Size: 55,430 square miles. Capital: Ufa.
Population: 3.95 million (24.3% Bashkirian; 40.3% Russian;
24.5% Tatar; 3.2% Chuvash);
President: Murtaza Rakhimov (elected Dec. 12, 1993; re-
elected w/ 73% of vote June 14, 1998 over Rif Kazak-
kulov who gets 9.3%; turnout nearly 70%),
Chairman of House of Representatives of State Assembly:
Munnirais Ishmuratov.
Republic of Buryatia:
Size: 135,650 square miles. Capital: Ulan Ude.
Population: 1.04 million (23% Buryat; 72% Russian);
President: Leonid Potapov, elected June 30, 1994, re-
elected June 21, 1998 w/ 63% of vote over Vladimir
Saganov who gets 6.5%;
Chairman of Peoples Hural: Mikhail Semenov.
Chechen Republic (Chechnya):
Size: 7,350 square miles. Capital: Grozny.
Population, pre war: 1.27 million (52.9% Chechen; 29.1%
Russian; 11.7% Ingush);
* Independence: declared Nov. 2, 1991, Russian troops battle
insurgents, Dec. 1994-Aug. 1996, forced to withdraw;
2nd Russian invasion, Aug. 1999.
President: Aslan Maskhadov, elected Jan. 27, 1997 w/
59.3% of vote over Field Commander Shamil Basaev who
gets 23.5%, and Acting Pres. Zelimkhan Yandarbiev who
gets 10.1%; turnout 79.4%.
Chairman of Supreme Council: Amin Osmaev
Chuvash Republic:
Size: 7,064 square miles. Capital: Cheboksary.
Population: 1.33 million (68.4% Chuvash; 26% Russian;
2.9% Tatar; 1.6% Mordovian);
President: Nikolai Fedorov (NDR), elected Dec. 26, 1993,
re-elected Dec. 28, 1998 w/ 57% of vote over Valentin
Shurchanov (CPRF) who gets 34%; turnout 60%.
Chairman of State Council: Valentin Shurchanov.
Republic of Dagestan:
Size: 19,416 square miles. Capital: Makhachkala.
Population: 1.79 million (25.7% Avartsy; 15.2% Dargintsy;
12.4% Kumyki; 11.6% Lezginy; 11.6% Russian; 5.1% Laki;
4.4% Tabasarany; 4% Azerbaijani);
Chairman of State Council: Aleksandr Volkov (O), elected
by parl. April 20, 1999;
Chairman of People’s Assembly: Mukhu Aliev, elected by
Supreme Soviet, Aug. 16, 1994;
Ingush Republic (Ingushetia):
Size: no exact figures Capital: Nazran (new capital
being built at Magas)
Population: 270,000
President: Maj. Gen. Ruslan Aushev, elected Feb. 27, 1994,
re-elected March 1, 1998 (pre-term) w/ 66.5% of vote
over Issa Kostoyev who gets 13.36%; turnout 64%.
Chairman of People’s Assembly: Ruslan Pliev.
Kabardino Balkaria Republic:
Size: 4,825 square miles. Capital: Nalchik.
Population: 760,000 (45.6% Kabardinian; 35.1% Russian;
9% Balkar);
President: Valerii Kokov, elected Jan. 9, 1992,
re-elected Jan. 12, 1997 w/ 99% of vote;
Chairman of Council of Representatives of Parliament:
Makhmud Zhaboev.
Republic of Kalmykia Khalmg Tangc:
Size: 29,300 square miles. Capital: Elista.
Population: 322,000 (41.5% Kalmyk; 42.6% Russian; 6.6%
Kazakh, Chechen, and Dagestani);
President: Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, unopposed reelection
(85% of vote) for 7 year term, Oct. 15, 1995,
Chairman of Parliament: Konstantin Maksimov.
Karachaevo Cherkessia Republic:
Size: 5,442 square miles. Capital: Cherkessk.
Population: 418,000;
President: Vladimir Semyonov, elected May 17, 1999 w/
75% of vote over Stanislav Derev who gets 18%;
turnout 63%.
Chairman of People’s Assembly: Igor Ivanov.
Republic of Karelia:
Size: 172,400 square miles. Capital: Petrozavodsk.
Population: 792,000 (71.3% Russian; 11.1% Karelian;
8.1% Belarussian; 3.2% Ukrainian; 2.7% Finnish);
Chairman of Government: Sergei Katanandov (NDR, LDPR,
Luzhkov backed) elected May 17, 1998 w/ 49.5% over
incumbent Viktor Stepanov (CPRF-backed) who gets 43.4%.
Chairman of Chamber of Representatives of Legislative
Assembly: Vladimir Shilnikov (CPRF).
Republic of Khakassia:
Size: 23,855 square miles. Capital: Abakan.
Population: 569,000.
Chairman of Council of Ministers: Aleksei Lebed
elected Dec. 22, 1996 in 2nd round w/ 71% of vote
re-elected Dec. 24, 2000 w/ 73% of vote
(the republic does not have a president);
Chairman of Supreme Council: Vladimir Shtygashev.
Republic of Komi:
Size: 164,540 square miles. Capital: Syktyvkar.
Population: 1.26 million (25.3% Komi; 56.7% Russian;
10.7% Ukrainian and Belarussian);
Head (not pres.) of Republic and govt.: Yuri Spiridonov
elected May 8, 1994, re-elected Dec. 1, 1997 w/ 62%
of vote over Rita Chistokhodova (CPRF) who gets 21%;
turnout 48%.
Chairman of State Council: Vladimir Torlopov.
Republic of Mari El:
Size: 8,955 square miles. Capital: Yoshkar Ola.
Population: 750,000 (43.5% Mari; 47.5% Russia;, 5.8% Tatar;
1.1% Chuvash);
President: Vyacheslav Kislitsyn (NPSR) elected Jan. 4,
1997 in 2nd round over Leonid Markelov (LDPR) who gets
36%; turnout 63%;
Chairman of State Assembly: Anatolii Smirnov.
Republic of Mordovia:
Size: 10,110 square miles. Capital: Saransk.
Population: 964,000 (34.2% Mordovian; 59.7% Russian;
4.6% Tatar).
Head of the Republic: Nikolai Merkushkin elected
Sept. 22, 1995, re-elected w/ 96.6% of vote
Feb. 19, 1998.
Chairman of State Assembly: Valerii Kechkin.
Republic of North Ossetia Alaniya (as of Nov. 10, 1994):
Size: 3,088 square miles. Capital: Mozdok.
Population: 634,000 (50.5% Ossetian; 33.9% Russian;
8.1% Ingush and other Caucasian peoples);
Factional conflict between Ossetians and Ingush, Oct. 1992;
President: Aleksandr Dzasokhov, elected Jan. 19, 1998
w/ 75% of vote over incumbent Akhsarbek Galazov who
gets less than 15%; turnout 70%.
Chairman of Parliament: Vyacheslav Parinov.
Republic of Sakha (Yakutia):
Size: 1,197,760 square miles. Capital: Yakutsk.
Population: 1.08 million (36.9% Yakut; 50.4% Russian;
22% other “Northern peoples”);
President: Mikhail Nikolaev (I); elected Dec. 22, 1996
w/ 60% of vote over Artur Alekseev who gets 26%;
turnout 64%.
Chairman of Chamber of Republic of State Assembly:
Egor Larionov.
Republic of Tatarstan (Tatarstan):
Size: 26,250 square miles. Capital: Kazan.
Population: 3.64 million (47.7% Tatar; 44% Russian;
5.9% Chuvash, Mordovian, and Udmurt);
Independence: referendum voted for by 61% to 37%,
March 21, 1992 (not recognized by Russia);
President: Mintimer Shaimiyev, re-elected w/ no oppo-
sition, 24 March 1996; turnout 75%.
Chairman of State Council: Farid Mukametshin.
Republic of Tyva (Tuva):
Size: 65,810 square miles. Capital: Kyzyl.
Population: 309,000 (60.5% Tuvans; 36.2% Russians);
President: Sherig ool Oorzhak,elected March 1992;
re-elected March 15, 1997 w/ 70% of vote over Kaadyr
ool Bicheldei.
Chairman of Parliament: Kaadyr ool Bicheldei.
Udmurt Republic:
Size: 16,250 square miles. Capital: Izhevsk.
Population: 1.6 million (32.2% Udmurt; 58.3% Russian;
6.6% Tatar);
President: Aleksandr Volkov (originally elected Chairman
of State Council, April 19, 1995), elected Oct. 15,
2000 over Pavel Vershinin who gets 23.9%;
Chairman of State Council of Government:
Cities of federal significance:
Moscow Yuri Luzhkov (O), mayor; elected June 19,
1996, re-elected Dec. 19, 1999 w/ 71.5%
of vote over Sergei Kirienko who gets
11.4%.
St. Petersburg Vladimir Yakovlev, governor; elected
June 2, 1996; re-elected May 14, 2000
w/ 72.7% over Igor Artemev (Y, E) who
gets 17.7%; turnout 46%
Oblasts: Name/Title/Election Data
Amur Anatolii Belonogov, head of admin,;
elected Sept. 22, 1996 over incumbent
Yurii Lyashko (appointed by Yeltsin June
1996); 36% turnout;
Arkhangelsk Anatolii Yefremov (I), head of admin.;
elected Dec. 22, 1996 in second round w/
58% of vote over Yurii Guskov who gets 33%.
Astrakhan Anatolii P. Guzhvin, head of admin.
(incumbent), elected Dec. 8, 1996 w/
52% of vote over Vyacheslav Zvolinskii
who gets 39%, re-elected Dec. 3, 2000.
Belgorod Yevgenii S. Savchenko, head of admin.,
elected May 31, 1999 w/ 53% of vote
over Vladimir Zhirinovskii (LDPR) who
gets 17%.
Bryansk Yurii Lodkin (NPSR), gov.; elected Dec. 8,
1996 w/ 53% of vote over incumbent
Aleksandr Semernev (appt. by Yeltsin June
1996) who gets 26%; turnout 50%.
Chelyabinsk Petr Sumin (NPSR), gov.; elected Dec. 22,
1996, re-elected Dec. 24, 2000 w/
58.77% of vote over Mikhail Grishankov
who gets 16.68%.
Chita Ravil Geniatulin, gov.; appt. by
Yeltsin Feb. 1996, re-elected Oct. 29,
2000 w/ 57.5% over Col.-Gen. Viktor
Voitenko who gets 16%.
Irkutsk Boris Govorin, gov., elected July 27,
1997 w/ 50.34% of vote over Sergei Lev-
chenko (CPRF) who gets 18.8%, and
Viktor Mashinskii (Popular Power) who
gets 14%; turnout 46%.
Ivanovo Vladislav Tikhomirov, gov.; elected
Dec. 1. 1996 over Sergei Sirotkin
(LDPR), 50.1% to 24%; turnout 47%.
Kaliningrad Leonid Gorbenko, gov, elected Oct. 20,
1996 w/ 50% of vote in runoff over
incumbent Yurii S. Matochkin (NDR),
who gets 41%; turnout 43%.
Kaluga Valerii Sudarenkov (NPSR), head of admin.,
elected Nov. 10, 1996 in runoff w/
63.5% of vote over incumbent Oleg
Savchenko who gets 31%; turnout 41%.
Kamchatka Vladimir A. Biryukov, gov.; elected w/
61% in second round of voting, Dec. 1,
1996 over Boris Oleinikov who gets 28%;
turnout 34%.
Kemerovo Aman Tuleev, CPRF, gov; appt. by Yeltsin
July 1, 1997, re-elected Oct. 19, 1997
w/ 94.6% of vote; turnout 53%.
Kirov Vladimir Sergeenkov (Popular Power Duma
faction), elected Oct. 20, 1996 w/ 50%
(turnout 54%), re-elected w/ 58.48% of
vote, March 26, 2000.
Kostroma Viktor Shershunov (NPSR), head of admin.;
elected Dec. 22, 1996, re-elected
Dec. 24, 2000 in 2nd round w/ 63% of
vote over Boris Korobov who gets 24.61%.
Kurgan Oleg Bogomolov (NPSR), gov. elected Dec.
8, 1996, re-elected w/ 50.5% Dec. 11,
2000.
Kursk Aleksandr Mikhailov (CPRF), gov., elected
Nov. 5, 2000, gets 55.5% over former
FSB Gen. Viktor Surzhikov (supported by
Kremlin) who gets 37.9%.
Leningrad Valerii Serdyukov, elected w/ 30% of vote
on Sept. 19, 1999 over former gov.
Vadim Gustov (CPRF-supported), who gets
23% of vote; 42% turnout.
Lipetsk Oleg Korolev (CPRF, Y-supported), elected
April 12, 1998 w/ 79% of vote over
incumbent Mikhail T. Narolin who gets
14%.
Magadan Valentin Tsvetkov (supported by NPSR,
Yabloko, LDPR and R-NC), elected to 2nd
term Nov. 5, 2000 w/ 62.8% of vote over
Vladimir Butkeev (Russia’s Regions) who
gets 14.18%.
Moscow Gen. Boris Gromov (OVR), elected Jan. 9,
2000 w/ 48.09% of vote over Duma speaker
Gennadii Seleznev (CPRF);
Murmansk Yurii Evdokimov (KRO), gov.; elected on
Oct. 20, 1996 w/44% of vote; re-elected
w/ 85.9% of vote, March 26, 2000.
Nizhnii Novgorod Ivan Sklyarov, gov.; elected w/
52% of vote in runoff on July 13,
1997 over CPRF Duma deputy Gennadii
Khodyrev who gets 42%; 49% turnout.
Novgorod Mikhail M. Prusak, head of admin.; re-
elected Sept. 5, 1999 w/ 91% of vote;
turnout 50%.
Novosibirsk Viktor Tolokonskii, gov.,; elected in
2nd round on Jan. 9, 2000 w/ 44.32% of
vote over Ivan Starikov who gets 42.17%;
Omsk Leonid K. Polezhaev, gov.; re-elected
Sept. 5, 1999 w/ 57% of vote over
Aleksandr Kravets (CPRF) who gets 26%;
turnout 50+%.
Orel Egor S. Stroev, head of admin.; re-elected
Oct. 26, 1997 w/ 97% of vote; no mean-
ingful opposition.
Orenburg Aleksei Chernyshev (CPRF), head of admin.,
elected Dec. 27, 2000 in runoff w/ 52.8%
of vote over incumbent Vladimir Elagin
(E) who gets 43.3%.
Penza Vasilii Bochkarev, gov.; elected April 12,
1998 w/ 59.5% of vote over Yurii Lyzhin
(CPRF) who gets 16%.
Perm Yurii Trutnev, head of admin.; elected
Dec. 3, 2000 w/ 50%+ over incumbent
Gennadii V. Igumnov (I).
Pskov Yevgenii Mikhailov becomes first LDPR
governor Nov. 3, 1996 w/ 56% of vote
over incumbent Vladislav N. Tumanov who
gets 37%; turnout in 1st round 51.7%,
second round 60.2%.
Rostov Vladimir F. Chub, head of admin. (appt.
by Yeltsin Aug. 1991) elected with 62%
of vote on Sept. 29, 1996 over predeces-
sor Leonid Ivanchenko (CPRF-supported)
who gets 32% of vote; 42% turnout;
Ryazan Vyacheslav Lyubimov (NPSR), gov.; elected
Dec. 22, 1996 w/ 56% of vote over incum-
bent Igor Ivlev (appt. by Yeltsin Oct.
15, 1996) who gets 38.36%; turnout in
1st round 52%.
Sakhalin Igor P. Farkhutdinov (pro-Unity), gov;
elected Oct. 20, 1996, re-elected Oct. 22,
2000 w/ 56.5% over Fedor Sidorenko who
gets 21.4%.
Samara Konstantin A. Titov, gov.,; elected
Dec. 1, 1996 defeating Valentin
Romanov (CPRF), 63% to 32%; turnout
52%; resigns April 4 , 2000.
Saratov Dmitrii Ayatskov (I appt. by Yeltsin
April, 1996; member of R-NC movement);
elected Sept. 1, 1996 w/ 81% (turnout
60%); re-elected March 26, 2000 w/
75% of vote.
Smolensk Aleksandr Prokhorov, head of admin. (CPRF,
admin. backing), elected May 17, 1998 w/
67.3% over Anatolii E. Glushenkov (I) who
gets 26.5%.
Sverdlovsk Eduard E. Rossel, gov., elected Aug. 20,
1995; re-elected Sept. 13, 1999 w/ 64%
of vote over Aleksandr Burkov who gets
27%; turnout 36%.
Tambov Oleg Betin (O-supported), elected
Dec. 27, 2000 w/ 50.34% of vote over
incumbent Aleksandr I. Ryabov (CPRF)
who gets 44.16%.
Tomsk Viktor M. Kress (NDR, appt. by Yeltsin in
1991), governor,; elected Sept. 19, 1999
w/ 73% of vote; turnout 49%.
Tula Vasilii Starodubtsev (Agrarian), gov.
elected March 23, 1997 w/ 62% of vote.
Tver Vladimir I. Platov, gov.; re-elected in
2nd round, Jan. 9, 2000 over Vladimir
Bayunov (CPRF);
Tyumen Leonid Y. Roketskii, head of admin.; appt.
by Yeltsin Feb. 1993; elected Jan. 12,
1997 w/ 59% of vote over Sergei
Atroshenko who gets 33%; turnout 56%
but both Khanty-Mantsi and Yamalo-
Nenets AO boycott election.
Ulyanovsk Vladimir Shamanov (Lt. Gen., commander in
Chechnya, supported by Kremlin, E,
KPRF), gov; elected Dec. 24, 2000
w/ 56% of vote over incumbent Yurii F.
Goryachev who gets 23%.
Vladimir Nikolai Vinogradov (NPSR), head of admin.
elected Dec. 8, 1996, re-elected w/ 66%
of vote Dec. 11, 2000.
Volgograd Nikolai Maksyuta (NPSR), head of admin.;
elected Dec. 29, 1996 w/ 51% of vote
over incumbent Ivan P. Shabunin who gets
44.
Vologda Vyacheslav Pozgalev, gov.; elected Oct. 6,
1996, re-elected Dec. 19, 1999 w/ 83%
of vote.
Voronezh Vladimir Kulakov (FSB regional director),
gov.; elected Dec. 24, 2000 over incum-
bent Ivan Shabanov (NPSR).
Yaroslavl Anatolii I. Lisitsyn, gov.; elected in
1995, re-elected Dec. 19, 1999 w/ 65%
of vote.
Autonomous oblasts:
Birobidzhan Nikolai M. Volkov, gov.; elected Oct.
20, 1996 w/ 72% of vote (turnout 42%),
re-elected w/ 56.76% of vote, March 26,
2000.
Krais:
Altai Aleksandr Surikov (NPSR), gov.; elected
Oct. 20, 1996 w/ 49% of vote (turnout
56%), re-elected w/ 77.41% of vote,
March 26, 2000.
Khabarovsk Viktor I. Ishaev, head of admin.; elected
Dec. 8, 1996, re-elected Dec. 11, 2000
w/ 77% of vote over Valentin Tsoi who
gets 7%.
Krasnodar Aleksandr Tkachev (Agro-Industrial), gov.;
elected Dec. 3, 2000.
Krasnoyarsk Aleksandr Lebed (I) elected May 17, 1998
w/ 57% of vote over Valerii M. Zubov (I)
who gets 38%; turnout 63%.
Primorsk Yevgenii I. Nazdratenko, gov.; re-elected
Dec. 20, 1999 w/ 80% of vote over
Aleksandr Kirilichev who claims voter
fraud.
Stavropol Aleksandr Chernogorov (CPRF), gov.;
elected Nov. 17, 1996 in runoff w/
55% over incumbent Petr P. Marchenko
40%; turnout in 1st round 45%, 2nd
round 65%.
Autonomous okrugs:
Agin-Buryat Bair Zhamsuev (RR), governor;
elected Feb. 23, 1997 w/44.5% of vote,
re-elected Oct. 29, 2000 w/ 95% of vote.
Vladimir Rabdanov, chairman of Duma
Chukotka Roman Abramovich (I), gov.;
elected Dec. 24, 2000 w/ 90% of vote
over Vladimir Yetylin who gets 3%.
Evenk Aleksandr Bokovikov (CPRF), elected
March 16, 1997 w/ 51% of vote over
incumbent Anatolii M. Yakimov who gets
650 votes less.
Khanty-Mansi Aleksandr V. Filipenko, incumbent, elect-
ed Oct. 27, 1996 w/ 72% (both admin.
and comm. support him) (turnout 47%);
re-elected w/ 91.12% of vote, March 26,
2000.
Komi-Permyak Nikolai A. Poluyanov, gov. (supported
by admin. and PPUR) reelected Nov. 17,
1996 w/ 71% of vote over Anatolii
Fedoseev who gets 17%; turnout 57%.
Koryak Valentina Bronevich, first female gov.
(backed by R-NC), elected Nov. 17, 1996 w/
46% of vote over incumbent Sergei
Leushkin who gets 25%; turnout 58%.
Nenets Vladimir Butov, gov., re-elected Jan. 14, 2001
w/ 68% of vote over Aleksandr Shmakov
who gets 10.27% of vote
Taimyr (Dolgano Nenets)
Gennadii P. Nedelin (I), head of admin.;
elected Dec. 22, 1996 w/ 64% of vote
over G. Subbotkin who gets 12%; turn-
out 30%.
Ust-Orda Buryat Valerii Maleev (supported by NDR), gov.,
elected Nov. 17, 1996 w/ 37% over
incumbent Aleksei N. Batagaev who gets
26%; turnout 59%.
Yamalo-Nenetsk Yurii V. Neelov, head of admin., incum-
bent elected Oct. 13, 1996 w/ 68% (turn-
out 49%); re-elected w/ 89% of vote,
March 26, 2000.
Abbreviations: CPRF = Communist Party of the Russian Federation
(leader: Gennadi Zyuganov)
E = Union of Rightist Forces (coalition of New
Force, headed by Sergei Kirienko, Young
Russia headed by Boris Nemtsov, Common
Cause headed by Irina Khakamada; also
includes Right Cause headed by Anatolii
Chubais)
I = incumbent
KRO = Congress of Russian Communities (leader:
Aleksandr Lebed)
LDPR = Liberal Democratic Party of Russia
(leader: Vladimir Zhirinovsky)
NDR = Our Home is Russia (leader: Viktor
Chernomyrdin)
NPSR = Popular Patriotic Union of Russia
(leader: Zyuganov, left alliance)
O = Fatherland (“Otechestvo”,
leader: Yuri Luzhkov)
R-NC = Reforms-New Course (leader: Vladimir
Shumeiko)
RR = Russia’s Regions
E = Unity (“E’dinstvo”, pro-Kremlin, leader:
Sergei Shoigu)
VR = All Russia (“Vsya Rossiya”,
leader: Yevgenii Primakov)
Y = Yabloko (leader: Grigorii Yavlinsky)
TAJIKISTAN:
Size: 55,240 square miles.
Capital: Dushanbe.
Population: 6.1 million
(2000 census: 64.9% Tajik;
25% Uzbek; 3.5% Russian;
6.6% other).
Independence: Parliament
declares sovereignty, Aug. 24,
1990, and independence, Sept. 9, 1991.
President: Imomali Rakhmonov, elected chairman of Supreme
Soviet, Nov. 19, 1992; re-elected Nov. 6, 1999 w/ 97%
of vote over Davlat Ismonov who gets 2%.
Parliament: Majlisi
Oli consists of 2 chambers; Majlisi
Mamoyandogan w/ 63 deps. serving 5 year terms (22 by pro-
portional representation; 41 in single-seat districts);
last elected Feb. 27 and March 12 2000; Lower chamber is
Majlisi Milli w/ 33 deps. (25 elected for 5 year term by
local majlisi deps.; 8 appointed by president).
* Civil war since 1992, border conflict with Afghanistan
which requires stationing of CIS/Russian troops.
Member of CIS.
Administrative Unit of Tajikistan
Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region:
Size: 24,590 square miles. Capital: Khorog.
Population: 143,000 (83% Tajik; 11% Kyrgyz).
TURKMENISTAN:
Size: 186,400 square miles.
Capital: Ashakabad.
Population: 4.48 million
(77% Turkmenian; 9.2% Uzbek;
6.7% Russian; 2% Kazakh;
5.9% other; Jan. ‘90 census).
Independence: Parliament declares
sovereignty, Aug. 22, 1990;
popular plebiscite approves
independence by 94%, Oct. 27, 1991.
President: Saparmurad Niyazov, First Sec. of CP; elected pres.
by parl., Oct. 1990; term extended until 2002 by popular
referendum, Jan. 15, 1994.
Parliament: Khalk Maslakhaty w/ about 100 members serving
5 year terms, and Medzhlis (Parliament) w/ 50 deputies
serving 5 year terms; last elected Dec. 11, 1994.
Member of CIS.
UKRAINE:
Size: 231,990 square miles.
Capital: Kiev.
Population: 51.8 million
(73.6% Ukrainian; 22% Russian;
1% Jewish; 0.8% Belarussian;
4% other).
Independence: Parliament declares sovereignty, July 16,
1990, independence, Aug. 24, 1991; referendum approved
by 92%, Dec. 1, 1991.
President: Leonid Kuchma, elected with 52% of popular vote over
first dem. elected pres. Leonid Kravchuk, July 10, 1994;
re-elected Nov. 14, 1999 w/ 56.31% of vote to Petr
Symonenko’s 37.76%.
Parliament: single chamber Verkhovna Rada w/ 450 deputies
serving 4 year terms; last elected March 25, 1998.
Founding Member of CIS; founding member of GUUAM.
UZBEKISTAN:
Size: 172,741 square miles.
Capital: Tashkent.
Population: 22.1 million
(71.4% Uzbek; 8.3% Russian;
4.7% Tajik; 2.4%% Tatar;
2.1% Karakalpak; 7% other).
Independence: Parliament declares
sovereignty, June 20, 1990,
independence, Aug 31, 1991.
President: Islam Karimov, elected by parl., March 1990; resigns
from CPSU Politburo, Aug. 23, 1991.
Parliament: single chamber Oliy Majlis w/ 150 deputies serving
5 year terms; last elected Dec. 25, 1994.
Member of CIS; founding member of GUUAM.
Administrative Unit of Uzbekistan
Karakalpak Autonomous Republic:
Size: 63,920 square miles. Capital: Nukus.
Population: 1.04 million (31.1% Karakalpak, 31.5% Uzbek,
26.9% Kazakh).
* Indicates separatist movement/civil conflict.
(revised Feb. 20, 2001)