Who is running Russia’s regions?

Abstract

The direct effect of the centre on political and economic development of Russia’s regions has increased significantly in recent years, with governors playing a key role in this process. Instead of representing the regional elites’ interests at the centre, as in the past, they are shifting closer towards representing the centre’s interests in the regions. A highly centralized United Russia, fiscal centralism and an increase in the centre’s control over law enforcement and the judiciary serve as the main leverage in this respect.