Gas Crisis has Prompted Heads of Three Russian Regions to Declare a State of High Alert, a Step Allowing the Postponing of Elections

Paul Goble

            Staunton, June 30 – The governors of three federal subjects – Penza, Transbaikal and Irkutsk – have declared a high state of alert because of the gas crisis, a move that permits them among other things postponing elections, including for the Duma. But Putin has indicated that he plans for the September vote to take place as scheduled, the Meduza portal reports.

            Because Putin’s commitment to hold the vote on time is almost certain to be determinative, some may be inclined to view this report as largely meaningless meduza.io/feature/2026/06/30/uzhe-tretiy-region-rossii-vvel-rezhim-povyshennoy-gotovnosti-iz-za-toplivnogo-krizisa-etot-rezhim-pozvolyaet-perenesti-vybory.

            But there are three reasons why that is likely a mistake, only the first of which Meduza mentions. First, as it notes, the heads of the FSB and the National Guard are lobbying for a postponement; and they are likely to use the governors’ declarations as a sign of support for their position.

            Second, these announcements give Putin himself an additional set of options, including putting off the elections if he judges the situation has changed or alternatively having the heads of the federal subjects deploy even more force to repress the population should that be needed.

            And third, the declaration of a state of heightened alert gives those governors who do it enormous powers to override normal procedures. It is entirely possible then that some governors want to do this in order to demonstrate support for the Kremlin, but it is not impossible to imagine that others who take this step may have other agendas.