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Despite being a longtime politician in the region, during his gubernatorial term Uss faced low approval ratings as he was viewed as an out-of-touch oligarch – Uss consistently ranked one of the wealthiest governors in Russia. In summer 2019 Siberia faced one the most devastating wildfires in history, meanwhile Aleksandr Uss said that fire fighting in remote forests is "useless and in some cases – even harmful", for which he received public criticism. Former Krasnoyarsk Krai Accounts Chamber chair Tatyana Davydenko even suggested that the lack of response to wildfires was caused by deliberate attempt to cover up mass illegal logging. In June 2020 Vladimir Putin criticised Uss's report about Norilsk oil spill for an absence of adequate response and potential solutions. In June 2022 a massive corruption scandal hit Krasnoyarsk as former Rosprirodnadzor deputy chairman Oleg Mitvol and Krasnoyarsk Krai transportation minister Konstantin Dimitrov were arrested for an embezzlement of more than 900 million rubles in the Krasnoyarsk Metro construction. Another scandal hit Uss personally: his son Artyom Uss was arrested in Italy at the request of the US Department of Justice on the charges of sanctions evasion and Venezuelan oil smuggling. Artyom Uss was able to escape from custody and return to Russia in April 2023.
Due to governor's low public ratings and numerous conflicts, Aleksandr Uss was named a potential candidate for replacement prior to the 2023 election. His age and lack of necessary education (the so-called "School of Governors" courses) also contributed to speculations about his potential resignation at the end of the first term. Nevertheless, Uss publicly announced his intention to run for a second term in November 2022. Among Uss's possible replacements were mentioned State Duma members Yury Shvytkin, Aleksandr Drozdov and Aleksey Veller, former Moscow Oblast vice governor Natalya Virtuozova, Norilsk Nickel vice president Andrey Grachev, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of RussiaAlexander Kozlov and Federal Antimonopoly Service deputy head Vitaly Korolev. On 20 April 2023 Governor Uss announced his resignation, President Putin appointed Deputy Minister of Finance of RussiaMikhail Kotyukov, a Krasnoyarsk native who previously served as regional finance minister, acting Governor of Krasnoyarsk Krai.
Candidates
In Krasnoyarsk Krai candidates for governor can be nominated only by registered political parties, self-nomination is not possible. However, candidates are not obliged to be members of the nominating party. Candidate for Governor of Krasnoyarsk Krai should be a Russian citizen and at least 30 years old. Candidates for governor should not have a foreign citizenship or residence permit. Each candidate in order to be registered is required to collect at least 5% of signatures of members and heads of municipalities. Also gubernatorial candidates present 3 candidacies to the Federation Council and election winner later appoints one of the presented candidates.
Andrey Klishas, incumbent Senator from Krasnoyarsk Krai (2012–present), Chairman of the Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building (2012–present)
2023 elections in Russia (→ 2024)