KRASNOYARSK, April 20 State Duma deputy from United Russia Sergei Sokol, who returned to Khakassia after serving as a volunteer in the zone of the special military operation, has expressed his desire to participate in the elections, United Russia headquarters in Khakassia reported.
At the end of September 2022, Sokol wrote a statement to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the leadership of the United Russia with a request to send him as a volunteer to the NVO zone, and already in October he left for the training unit for combat coordination. It is known that he served in the air reconnaissance unit of the BARS «Kaskad». In January, he extended his contract. In early April, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree awarding Sokol with the Order of Courage. The day before, the deputy of the State Duma returned to Khakassia. Secretary of the General Council of «United Russia» Andrey Turchak reported that the party will nominate Sokol for the election of the governor of Khakassia.
«Sergei Mikhailovich said that he plans to put forward his candidacy for the post of head of the Republic of Khakassia and expects to win,» — said the agency's interlocutor.
Previously, Sokol held the posts of Deputy Governors of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Irkutsk Region, was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Irkutsk Region. In 2020, he became a deputy of the State Duma of the VII convocation, in 2021 he was elected to the State Duma of the VIII convocation for Khakassia.
The current governor of Khakassia, 35-year-old Valentin Konovalov, represents the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. He was elected head of the region in the second round of elections in November 2018. Prior to Konovalov, the republic was headed by United Russia Viktor Zimin since 2009. In September 2018, in the gubernatorial elections, he won 32.42% of the vote, after which he decided to withdraw his candidacy and later resigned. Konovalov remained the only candidate for the post of head of the region, on November 11, 57.57% of voters cast their votes for him, 41.16% voted against.