Sergei Sokol, a State Duma member, has declared his candidacy for the upcoming election of the head of Khakasia, as reported by TASS on April 20th. Having fought as a volunteer in Ukraine since the fall of 2022, Sokol returned just a few days ago.
In February, the Verstka publication reported United Russia's intention to nominate Sergei Sokol as a candidate for the position of head of Khakassia. The newspaper suggested that the current Communist governor, Valentin Konovalov, might either resign his post early or lose the election to a United Russia candidate.
Sergei Sokol, who has been a volunteer in Ukraine since the fall of 2022, was awarded the Order of Courage by Putin in the spring. On April 17, he announced his return to Khakassia. Three days later, he told TASS that Andrei Turchak, secretary of United Russia’s general council, had proposed his candidacy for the September elections.
"We are accustomed to carrying out the instructions of our party leadership with responsibility. We will work hard to convince people that our cause is just," Sokol said.
If elected, Sokol could become the first governor in Russia who has fought in Ukraine. Previously, he served as a deputy governor of the Krasnoyarsk region for six years and spent a year in an identical position in the Irkutsk region. In 2021, he became a State Duma representative from Khakassia. According to Verstka's sources, having war veterans on their team is advantageous for political parties since "there is a public demand for it."