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 Tambov Oblast. Tambov Oblast is located in the center of the East European plain and borders Penza, Ryazan, Lipetsk, Voronezh, and Saratov oblasts. Tambov has well developed industrial and agricultural sectors. Oleg Betin’s victory in Tambov Oblast’s 1999 gubernatorial election was noteworthy as it brought a former Yeltsin appointee who had failed to win popular election in 1995 back to power. In 1998 Betin formed the Za vozrozhdenie Tambovshchiny political movement, which sought to unite the disparate groups opposed to Ryabov. Tambov Oblast is a part of the Black Earth Association, headed by Orel Governor and Federation Council Speaker Yegor Stroev. This organization consists of Voronezh, Belgorod, Kursk, Lipetsk, Orel, and Tambov oblasts.
