United Russia deputy came from the war zone to Khakassia to fight against the communist

State Duma deputy Sergei Sokol, who returned from the special operation zone on April 17, will run for governor of Khakassia from United Russia, the headquarters of public support for the ruling party, opened on April 20, made the corresponding decision. This was stated during a visit to Abakan by Secretary of the General Council of “United Russia” Andrey Turchak. “Sergey spent half a year – at the call of his heart, because he treats his homeland, his family this way, – he spent at the forefront. He served as a volunteer on one of the most tense sectors of the front – he commanded the air reconnaissance crew of the BARS “Kaskad”. For which he was awarded the Order of Courage,” Turchak wrote in his Telegram channel. The politician called Sokol “a worthy candidate”, with whom they “went through more than one election campaign.”

Vedomosti previously wrote that some United Russia members intend to participate in the elections after returning from the combat zone. This is part of their political positioning.

“I’m sure he [Сокола] professional experience, combined with human decency, willingness to listen and hear people, will be in demand and appreciated by the inhabitants of the republic. Sergei has a team – a large team of United Russia (he heads the regional branch of the ruling party. – Vedomosti). It’s worth a lot,” Turchak said. Sokol himself said that a program for the socio-economic development of Khakassia is now being formed, which will become the basis for work and will be built into the country’s development strategy.

“We have everything to collect the best practices, to change everything for the better. I am sure that we will quickly catch up with other subjects in order to get everything that the region once did not receive. And Khakassia will become the subject that will work best of all. Including support for our guys in the special operation zone, ”said the future candidate for governor of the republic from United Russia. Sokol, who had been serving in the special operation zone since October 2022, posted a video on his social networks on April 17 with the message: “I am returning home to Khakassia. See you soon”.

The current governor of Khakassia, a member of the Communist Party, Valentin Konovalov, also plans to go to the polls, Vedomosti has repeatedly written. At the moment, he has little chance of winning, says Khakassian political scientist Alexander Bortnikov. According to local opinion polls, about a third of the electorate is in favor of keeping the communist, while more than half would like to change him.

“This is happening due to a serious anti-rating. A fairly strong opponent has been put up against him, who has gained bonuses in the eyes of the public as a veteran front-line soldier, and all the power of United Russia and the Kremlin will stand behind him, ”says Bortnikov. Konovalov, according to the political scientist, has limited resources: “Therefore, he has problems with both financial and human resources. For example, technologists are far from the first echelon working for him.”

Konovalov was elected to this post in 2018, beating incumbent governor Viktor Zimin, who came from United Russia, in the first round. And a few days before the second round, Zimin withdrew from the elections, and then other candidates followed. By law, remaining the only candidate, Konovalov had to win the majority of votes. His score was 57.6%.

An interlocutor close to the presidential administration in a conversation with Vedomosti notes that Konovalov’s case is useful for the Kremlin: “He won as a protest candidate and showed himself objectively bad. The population should conclude that a presidential appointee with support in Moscow is the best option.” Another candidate does not stand work in the region.

Political scientist Rostislav Turovsky does not rule out that the head of Khakassia will lose in the first round. “Falcon’s chances of success are great, he will be intensively promoted for the elections. If Konovalov participates, the competition will be higher than usual, but the elections may end in one round,” he said.