Khabirov ran for a full term as United Russia candidate and easily won the 2019 election with 82.02% of the vote.[4] His nearest challenger, State Assembly member Yunir Kutluguzhin (CPRF), received only 6.89%, while the remaining six candidates split the rest of 10.17% combined.
Early in his term Khabirov faced large-scale ecological protests in August 2020, when activists opposed limestone mining at the protected mountain Kushtau.[5] Up to a 3,000 people participated in the protests at the site, which ultimately resulted in mining cessation and protected status for Kushtau.[6] Another round of demonstration occurred in January 2024 in Baymak and Ufa when around 5,000–10,000 people protested the imprisonment of activist Fail Alsynov, who was among leaders of the Kushtau unrest.[7]
Despite ecological protests and presumable conflict with the clan of former President Rakhimov, Khabirov was attributed with industrial growth and attraction of investments into the republic.[8] Under Khabirov's leadership Bashkortostan also became one of few regions, where United Russia improved its result in the 2021 Russian legislative election (up 10 points compared to the 2016 election).[9] Khabirov also led United Russia list in the 2023 State Assembly election, where the ruling party received 68.92% of the vote, improving its previous result by 10.6 points and gaining 8 more seats.[10]
In April 2024 during a meeting with PresidentVladimir Putin Head Khabirov announced his intention to run for a second term and received Putin's endorsement.[11]
Candidates
In the Republic of Bashkortostan candidates for Head can be nominated only by registered political parties. Candidate for Head of the Republic of Bashkortostan 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 5% of signatures of members and heads of municipalities.[12] Also head candidates present 3 candidacies to the Federation Council and election winner later appoints one of the presented candidates.
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