2024 Kalmyk head election

Former Federation Council member (2012–2014) and professional kickboxer Batu Khasikov was appointed acting Head of Kalmykia in March 2019.^[1] He overwhelmingly won the subsequent general election in September 2019 with 82.54% of the vote.^[2] Khasikov also appointed his predecessor, Aleksey Orlov, to the Federation Council after the election.^[3]

Khasikov's first term was tumultuous as already in September–October 2019, mere weeks after Khasikov's election, protests swept through the republic as people opposed the appointment of Orlov to the Federation Council and nomination of DNR official Dmitry Trapeznikov as Mayor of Elista.^[4] Despite the protests, the nominations were never withdrawn. In October 2020 leaders of three factions in the People's Khural of Kalmykia – Communist Party, A Just Russia and, even, United Russia – wrote an open letter to President Vladimir Putin, where they accused Khasikov of mishandling of COVID-19 pandemic, lack of support for farmers, and general negligence.^[5]

In the 2021 Russian legislative election United Russia underperformed in Kalmykia as the party lost 18 points compared to 2016 election.^[6] Nevertheless, Khasikov was able to get his ally Badma Bashankayev a seat in the State Duma, who in turn in the primaries defeated incumbent Marina Mukabenova, who was viewed as potential replacement for Khasikov.^[7] Batu Khasikov also strengthened his positions after the 2023 Kalmykia parliamentary election, when United Russia retained its majority winning 23 out of 27 seats,^[8] and, importantly for Khasikov, when his critics, like former United Russia faction leader Saglar Bakinova, lost their seats in the Khural.

In May 2024 during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin Head Khasikov announced his intention to run for a second term and received Putin's endorsement.^[9]

In the Republic of Kalmykia candidates for Head can be nominated only by registered political parties. Candidate for Head of the Republic of Kalmykia should be a Russian citizen and at least 30 years old. Candidates for Head should not have a foreign citizenship or residence permit. Each candidate in order to be registered is required to collect at least 9% of signatures of members and heads of municipalities.^[10] Also head candidates present 3 candidacies to the Federation Council and election winner later appoints one of the presented candidates.

In late April 2024 People's Khural of Kalmykia made amendments to the electoral law, lowering the municipal filter from 9% to 7%.^[11]

Candidate name, political party			Occupation	Status	Ref.
Aysa Bayanova New People			Gymnasium deputy principal	Registered	[12]
Batu Khasikov United Russia			Incumbent Head of the Republic of Kalmykia (2019–present)	Registered	[9][13]
Yury Khrushchev Liberal Democratic Party			Coordinator of LDPR regional office (2021–present)	Registered	[14]
Mikhail Namruyev Communist Party			Former Advisor to the Prime Minister of Kalmykia (2017–2018)	Registered	[15]
Natalya Manzhikova SR–ZP			Member of People's Khural of Kalmykia (2018–present) 2019 head candidate	Did not file	[16]

Incumbent Senator Aleksey Orlov (United Russia) was not renominated.

All sums are in rubles.