KRASNOYARSK, April 21 State Duma deputy from United Russia Sergei Sokol, who returned to Khakassia after serving as a volunteer in the zone of a special military operation, said that he would take part in the election of the head of the republic and intends to win.
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.
Sokol in his telegram channel spoke about the first working day in the republic after returning. «The first working day in Khakassia, after returning from the NVO zone, was very eventful and constructive. Together with Andrey Turchak, we got acquainted with the plan for the reconstruction of Victory Park, opened the Headquarters for public support of the United Russia party, met with party activists and candidates for preliminary voting. Quite a few questions were raised, including I was repeatedly asked whether I would put forward my candidacy for the post of head of Khakassia. I will answer again — yes, I am going to the polls! And yes, I am going to win!» – wrote the deputy.
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.