The Communists heard a signal from above – Newspaper Kommersant No. 69 (7514) dated 04/20/2023

The Oryol Regional Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation is ready to nominate communist Andrei Klychkov, who has been heading the region since 2017, in the September gubernatorial elections. The first secretary of the department, Senator Vasily Ikonnikov, announced this immediately after the visit to Orel of the first deputy head of the presidential administration, Sergei Kiriyenko. According to the communist, the arrival of a representative of the Kremlin is a signal that they have already decided on a candidate for the post of head of the region. Mr. Klychkov himself has not yet made statements about his participation in the elections. Experts believe that his departure from the governor’s post would be a painful blow for the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, and now the Kremlin does not want to inflict it.

First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Sergei Kiriyenko visited Orel on 18 April. Together with Andrei Klychkov, whose first term as governor is coming to an end, the Kremlin official got acquainted with the work of the regional branch of the state fund to support participants in the special military operation “Defenders of the Fatherland”, visited the Quantorium children’s technopark and at the site of the regional branch of the movement of children and youth “Movement of the First” at the Palace of Pioneers and Schoolchildren.

At the end of the working trip, Sergei Kiriyenko and Andrey Klychkov laid flowers at the monument to tank guardsmen and the stele in Victory Park. The head of the region told Mr. Kiriyenko about the results of the work of the regional leadership in the social sphere, the development of education and patriotic education, the improvement of public territories and the creation of a comfortable environment. Sergei Kiriyenko told Vesti-Orel that he was leaving the region “with a very good optimistic feeling”: “I was very pleased with how Orel and the Oryol region are changing. Despite all the difficulties and challenges, we can see the dynamics in the development of the Oryol region in almost all areas.”

The next day, a member of the Federation Council from the Oryol region and the head of the local regional committee of the Communist Party Vasily Ikonnikov wrote in his Telegram channelthat the arrival of Sergei Kiriyenko is a signal to the political and social forces of the region, and the election campaign is acquiring specific features, leaders and participants. “The Kremlin has decided on a candidate for governor in the upcoming elections – this is Andrei Klychkov, who will be nominated for the governor’s elections in June this year by the regional branch of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation,” the senator said.

Mr. Klychkov himself has not yet publicly announced his firm intention to be re-elected. Vasily Ikonnikov clarified to Kommersant that the head of the region did not do this within the party either.

Andrey Klychkov was appointed Acting Governor of the Oryol Region in October 2017. He replaced his fellow party member Vadim Potomsky, who had been in office for less than four years. Prior to that, Mr. Klychkov was a deputy of the Moscow City Duma, where he headed the Communist Party faction. In September 2018, he won direct gubernatorial elections with 83.55% of the vote. “United Russia” then did not put forward its candidate against him.

In the elections to the State Duma in 2021, Andrei Klychkov was included in the general part of the federal list of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, but after the vote he refused the mandate. Despite the fact that he remained in his post, his possible early resignation was regularly discussed in the region. Mr. Klychkov himself repeatedly denied it, arguing that he was not going anywhere and was ready to continue working with the support of the residents. At the end of March 2023, Kommersant sources close to the presidential administration called Andrei Klychkov one of the possible retirees as part of the spring gubernatorial rotation.

Now the interlocutor of Kommersant, surrounded by the governor, declares that he agrees with the statement of Vasily Ikonnikov and is waiting for the nomination of Mr. Klychkov for a second term.

Political scientist Vladimir Slatinov believes that the visit of the first deputy head of the presidential administration may indicate two scenarios. “He discussed with Klychkov either the options for leaving, or the details of the nomination for a second term. A number of signs point to the option of extending the powers. Firstly, Klychkov is the governor of Kirienkov’s “new wave” under the political quota, and they will sacrifice him as a last resort. Secondly, for the leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Gennady Zyuganov, the Oryol region is a showcase: the party actively promotes a successful communist governor, and his departure could be a painful blow for the communists. I think the Kremlin does not want to allow this now, ”the expert argues.

Sergei Tolmachev, Voronezh