ABSTRACT
This chapter provides all basic political, economic, and demographic data on a territorial unit of the Russian Federation, Kostroma Oblast, which is located in the center of European Russia and borders Yaroslavl, Vologda, Kirov, Ivanovo, and Nizhnii Novgorod oblasts. Forestry products are among the major export items of the oblast. Kostroma also exports equipment for various industries and jewelry. Viktor Shershunov was elected governor of Kostroma Oblast in December 1996, unseating incumbent Valerii Arbuzov with support from a wide variety of political camps. Shershunov’s victory is most appropriately described as Arbuzov’s defeat. The fate of Kostroma’s nuclear power plant served as the decisive issue in the 1996 gubernatorial election. Shershunov appears to enjoy relatively good relations with the oblast legislature and the region’s mayors. However, the city of Kostroma itself is deeply in debt since most of its industry is not functioning.
