Governors in Russian Federal System: A Case Study of Siberian Federal Region in 2010–2024

The article examines the political functions and status of governors in the context of centralized federalism in Russia in 2010–2024 using the example of the Siberian Federal District. Such legislative changes as Federal Law No. 414-FZ (Dec. 12, 2021), which strengthened the power vertical and limited regional political autonomy. The analysis covered gubernatorial election mechanisms, e.g., the so-called municipal filter, as well as interactions between the federal government, regional elites, and local authorities. The authors compared Kemerovo, Irkutsk, and Novosibirsk regions, namely their governance models and the impact of economic factors on governors’ political stability. The comparative analysis also featured the financial, personnel-related, and coercive tools of federal control. The research revealed the trend toward uniform regional governance: the autonomy of governors is eroding, even as their official mandates remain extensive. The local economic situation correlates with the political stability of governors while crisis phenomena directly affect the stability of regional authorities. The reinforcement of the power vertical is driven by the system of Key Performance Indicators. The top-down monitoring continues to advance, though it must still navigate the tension between central mandates and territorial diversity.