ABSTRACT

This chapter provides all basic political, economic, and demographic data on every territorial unit of the Russian Federation, its local government structure, regional politics and electoral history through the spring 2000 elections and the summer 2000 reorganization of the Perm Oblast. Perm Oblast is located in the easternmost part of Europe, where the Russian plain meets the Ural Mountains. It occupies about one fifth of the entire Ural Mountains and borders Sverdlovsk and Kirov oblasts, as well as the republics of Bashkortostan, Komi, and Udmurtia. The oblast’s territory is rich in mineral resources, including natural gas and oil. The oblast is located at the intersection of two railroads that connect it with European, Siberian and Far Eastern regions. Gennadii Igumnov was elected governor of Perm Oblast in December 1996, winning 64.6 percent of the vote after having served in the position via appointment since January 1996.