Putin held a meeting with elected regional heads

MOSCOW, September 30 - RIA Novosti. The elections of regional heads in Russia were competitive, with the winners determined in the first round with a significant majority of votes - this level of support means even greater responsibility for the elected regional heads, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

Putin on Wednesday met via video link with the regional heads elected in the last elections.

“The elections for regional heads were competitive. Representatives of various political parties competed for votes. Moreover, the winners were determined in the first round with a significant margin. Of course, such a level of support, first of all, means even greater responsibility,” the president said.

The head of state noted that Russian citizens thus gave their assessment of the results that the elected heads of regions have already managed to achieve; people said that they expect to continue the course taken - both in the country as a whole, and in their regions, hometowns and villages.

“It is very important to justify the trust received, together with your management teams, work systematically and with full dedication in the interests of people, always hear their hopes and aspirations, constantly receive feedback, including through dialogue with all factions represented in regional parliaments, with public and volunteer associations,” Putin emphasized.

On a single voting day in 2026, direct elections of senior officials of eight constituent entities of Russia were held. They were won by the current heads and acting heads representing United Russia: Alexander Shuvaev in the Belgorod region, Yegor Kovalchuk in the Bryansk region, Artem Zdunov in Mordovia, Oleg Melnichenko in the Penza region, Vitaly Korolev in the Tver region, Vladislav Khovalyg in Tyva and Ramzan Kadyrov in Chechnya, as well as Alexey Russkikh from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation in Ulyanovsk region.