2026 Belgorod Oblast gubernatorial election

2026 Belgorod Oblast gubernatorial election
18–20 September 2026
 
SR
Candidate Alexander Shuvaev Vladimir Abelmazov Yevgeny Dremov
Party United Russia A Just Russia LDPR
 
CPRF
RPPSS
Candidate Valery Shevlyakov Artyom Zotov
Party CPRF Party of Pensioners
Governor before election

Alexander Shuvaev (acting)
United Russia

 Governor-elect

TBD

Senator before election

Zhanna Chefranova
Independent

 Senator after election

TBD

The 2026 Belgorod Oblast gubernatorial election will take place on 18–20 September 2026, on common election day, to elect the Governor of Belgorod Oblast, coinciding with the 2026 Russian legislative election. Acting Governor Alexander Shuvaev is running for a full term in office.

Background

In September 2020 then-Governor of Belgorod Oblast Yevgeny Savchenko, the longest-serving Russian governor in history, who led the region since 1993, unexpectedly announced his resignation after he was elected to the Belgorod Oblast Duma and appointed to the Federation Council.[1] After Savchenko's resignation First Deputy Governor Denis Butsayev became acting Governor, while the whole move was viewed to be orchestrated by Savchenko in order to appoint a preferred successor as Butsayev's position was created hours before the transition.[2] The move apparently was not approved by the Presidential Administration because Butsayev was not formally appointed acting governor. In November 2020 President of Russia Vladimir Putin appointed Deputy Chairman of the Government of Stavropol Krai Vyacheslav Gladkov as acting Governor of Belgorod Oblast, replacing Butsayev.[3] Gladkov easily won the election for a full term in September 2021 with 78.79% of the vote.[4]

Following the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present) Belgorod Oblast, which is situated on the border with Ukraine, suffered significantly from the conflict, including deadly UAV and missile strikes as well as incursuions. Due to constant attacks some residents of western Belgorod Oblast districts were evacuated. In these circumstances Gladkov's profile was elevated to the national level, while his management and communication skills in the war-torn region were widely touted.[5][6] Gladkov's high profile even led to rumours about his appointment as Head of the Presidential Office for Domestic Policy following the 2024 presidential election, however, Gladkov remained in his position as Governor of Belgorod Oblast.[7]

In the regional elite dynamics a major turmoil occurred in March 2022 when Senator Savchenko published his memoirs where he openly admitted to speaking with ghosts through a physic and worshipping an entity called "Monoston".[8] Following the controversial memoirs release and subsequent condemnation, Savchenko's confidants – Belgorod Oblast Duma speaker Olga Pavlova and her deputies Yelena Bondarenko and Valery Sergachyov – resigned from the chamber,[9] while Savchenko himself left Federation Council in June 2024.[10] As the result of Savchenko's downfall Gladkov was able to consolidate power in the region, eliminating the network of his predecessor. In June 2025, Deputy Governor of Belgorod Oblast Rustem Zainullin was arrested for embezzlement in the fortification construction, which was seen as a blow to Gladkov.[11][12] In August 2025 acting Deputy Governor of Kursk Oblast Vladimir Bazarov was also arrested for embezzlement in the fortification construction during his time as Deputy Governor of Belgorod Oblast in 2020–2025.[13]

In March 2026 governor Gladkov asked political parties and candidates to refrain from campaigning in the upcoming gubernatorial and State Duma elections due to security concerns.[14] In April 2026 Vedomosti reported that Vyacheslav Gladkov could resign from his position due to health issues and deteriorating quality of life in the region, despite governor's good personal ratings;[15] Gladkov would presumably be appointed Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia[16] or Russian Ambassador to Abkhazia.[17] Several sources reported Hero of Russia major general Alexander Shuvaev, Deputy Governor of Irkutsk Oblast since January 2026, to be the frontrunner for the position of acting Governor of Belgorod Oblast.[18][19]

Amid resignation rumours Governor Gladkov took leave in April 2026 for two weeks, later extending it for another two weeks.[20][21] On May 13, 2026, Gladkov submitted his resignation to President Putin which the latter accepted.[22] Putin appointed Deputy Governor of Irkutsk Oblast Alexander Shuvaev as acting Governor of Belgorod Oblast. In late June 2026 Gladkov was appointed Russian Ambassador to Abkhazia.[23]

Candidates

In Belgorod Oblast candidates for governor of Belgorod Oblast can be nominated only by registered political parties. A candidate for Governor of Belgorod Oblast should be a Russian citizen and at least 30 years old. Candidates for Governor of Belgorod Oblast should not have a foreign citizenship or residence permit. Each candidate in order to be registered is required to collect at least 5% of the signatures of municipal deputies and heads of municipalities.[24] Also gubernatorial candidates present 3 candidacies to the Federation Council and election winner later appoints one of the presented candidates.

Declared candidates

Candidate name,
political party		 Occupation Status Ref.
Vladimir Abelmazov
A Just Russia		 Former Member of Belgorod Oblast Duma (2020–2025)
2021 RPPSS gubernatorial candidate		 Registered [25]
Yevgeny Dremov
Liberal Democratic Party		 Member of Belgorod Oblast Duma (2025–present)
Aide to State Duma member Ivan Musatov
2021 gubernatorial candidate		 Registered [26]
Valery Shevlyakov
Communist Party		 Member of Belgorod Oblast Duma (2010–present) Registered [27]
Alexander Shuvaev
United Russia		 Acting Governor of Belgorod Oblast (2026–present)
Former Deputy Governor of Irkutsk Oblast (2026)		 Registered [28][29]
Artyom Zotov
Party of Pensioners		 Member of Belgorod City Council (2023–present)
Property management businessman		 Registered [30]
Sergey Yeskov
Rodina		 Chairman of the party regional office Withdrew [31]

Eliminated in the primary

Candidates for Federation Council

Incumbent Senator Zhanna Chefranova (Independent) was not re-nominated.

Gubernatorial candidate,
political party		 Candidates for Federation Council Status
Vladimir Abelmazov
A Just Russia		 * Oleg Korchagin, Member of Stary Oskol Council of Deputies (2017–present), nonprofit director
* Sergey Milshin, party official
* Vladimir Zatsepin, community activist		 Registered
Yevgeny Dremov
Liberal Democratic Party		 * Konstantin Klimashevsky, former Member of Belgorod City Council (2018–2023), 2017 gubernatorial candidate
* Andrey Koltykov, Member of Belgorodsky District Council (2025–present), attorney
* Ilya Komarov, Member of Ivnyansky District Council (2025–present), communication lab head		 Registered
Valery Shevlyakov
Communist Party		 * Artyom Akhadov, Member of Stary Oskol Council of Deputies (2022–present), medical centre director
* Member of Krasnogvardeysky District Council (2025–present), accountant
* Yury Shashnin, Member of Belgorod Oblast Duma (2025–present)		 Registered
Alexander Shuvaev
United Russia		 * Aleksandr Lorents, Deputy Governor of Belgorod Oblast – Chief of Staff to the Governor (2024–present)
* Natalia Poluyanova, Member of State Duma (2021–present)
* Valery Skrug, Member of State Duma (2011, 2016–present)		 Registered
Artyom Zotov
Party of Pensioners		 * Yelena Petrova, accountant
* Nikita Povetkin, IT specialist
* Natalya Tsyguleva, accountant		 Registered

Finances

All sums are in rubles.

Financial ReportSourceAbelmazovDremovShevlyakovShuvayevZotov
First[33]60,000120,0001,040,00020,400,000TBA
FinalTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD

Results

Summary of the 18–20 September 2026 Belgorod Oblast gubernatorial election results
Candidate Party Votes %
Vladimir Abelmazov A Just Russia
Yevgeny Dremov Liberal Democratic Party
Valery Shevlyakov Communist Party
Alexander Shuvaev (incumbent) United Russia
Artyom Zotov Party of Pensioners
Valid votes
Blank ballots
Total 100.00
Turnout
Registered voters 100.00
Source:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Губернатор ушел в сенаторы". kommersant.ru. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
  2. ↑ "Экс-глава мусорного госоператора станет врио белгородского губернатора". rbc.ru. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
  3. ↑ "Путин назначил Вячеслава Гладкова врио губернатора Белгородской области". tass.ru. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  4. ↑ "Вячеслав Гладков победил на выборах белгородского губернатора". rg.ru. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  5. ↑ "Образцовый регион из прифронтовой полосы: Как Вячеслав Гладков за 4 года изменил Белгородскую область". ria.ru. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  6. ↑ "Пять лет развития: главные успехи Вячеслава Гладкова во главе Белгородской области". mk-belgorod.ru. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  7. ↑ "Brief: Гладков может возглавить управления ВП администрации президента РФ". osnmedia.ru. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  8. ↑ "«Во власть очень редко приходят светлые люди»". kommersant.ru. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  9. ↑ "Ближайший соратник экс-губернатора Савченко покинет пост спикера Белгородской облдумы". vedomosti.ru. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  10. ↑ "Сенатор от Белгорода досрочно сложил полномочия по собственному желанию". ria.ru. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  11. ↑ "Вице-губернатора Белгородской области обвинили в хищении бюджетных средств". tass.ru. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  12. ↑ "Арест белгородского вице-губернатора Зайнуллина: какими будут последствия для команды Гладкова?". regcomment.ru. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  13. ↑ "Задержан врио замгубернатора Курской области". rbc.ru. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
  14. ↑ "Кандидатов просят не беспокоиться". kommersant.ru. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
  15. ↑ "В приграничной Белгородской области может смениться губернатор". vedomosti.ru. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
  16. ↑ "Вячеслав Гладков может перейти на должность заместителя министра". vedomosti.ru. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  17. ↑ "Вячеславу Гладкову может быть предложена должность посла России в Абхазии". vedomosti.ru. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  18. ↑ "Источники «Ведомостей»: Белгородскую область может возглавить Шуваев". vedomosti.ru. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  19. ↑ "В Кремле обсудили назначение военного губернатором Белгородской области". rbc.ru. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  20. ↑ "Гладков рассказал, что уходит в отпуск впервые с 2024 года". rbc.ru. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  21. ↑ "Гладков продлил свой отпуск на две недели по рекомендации врачей". rbc.ru. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  22. ↑ "Губернатор Белгородской области Гладков отправлен в отставку". vedomosti.ru. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  23. ↑ "Путин назначил Гладкова послом в Абхазии". ria.ru. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  24. ↑ "Закон Белгородской области от 01 апреля 2005 года N 182 "Избирательный кодекс Белгородской области" (с изменениями на 5 июня 2025 года)". docs.cntd.ru. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
  25. ↑ "Абельмазов Владимир Викторович". izbirkom.ru. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  26. ↑ "Дремов Евгений Александрович". izbirkom.ru. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  27. ↑ "Шевляков Валерий Алексеевич". izbirkom.ru. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  28. 1 2 "Врио губернатора Белгородчины Шуваев будет участвовать в выборах главы региона". interfax.ru. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  29. ↑ "Шуваев Александр Михайлович". izbirkom.ru. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  30. ↑ "Зотов Артем Юрьевич". izbirkom.ru. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  31. ↑ "Еськов Сергей Леонидович". izbirkom.ru. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  32. ↑ "Шуваев победил в праймериз ЕР перед выборами губернатора Белгородской области". kommersant.ru. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  33. ↑ "Финансовые отчеты кандидатов". belgorod.izbirkom.ru. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
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