2000 Russian presidential election
Vladimir Putin became prime minister in August 1999, marking the fifth leadership change of that role within less than two years. This rapid turnover followed a series of political upheavals that began in spring 1998 when Boris Yeltsin dismissed Viktor Chernomyrdin. The economic crisis of August 1998 saw the government default on its debt and devalue the rouble simultaneously. Sergey Kirienko replaced Chernomyrdin but was soon replaced by Yevgeny Primakov. By May 1999, Primakov had been swapped for Sergei Stepashin before Putin took his place.
Putin entered this chaotic landscape as an unknown figure with ties to both the Yeltsin administration and state security services. He faced immediate skepticism from voters who doubted his longevity in office. In late summer and early fall 1999, apartment bombings across Russia killed hundreds and injured thousands more. These attacks were blamed on Chechen separatists and provided Putin with a platform to position himself as a strong leader capable of handling the threat.
Yeltsin's popularity had plummeted due to scandals involving Skuratov, Mercata, and Mabetex. Articles of impeachment were filed against him in mid-1999, though he narrowly survived the process. Political rivals like Yevgeny Primakov and Yuri Luzhkov were seen as potential threats because they might prosecute Yeltsin and his family for corruption if they won power. Primakov even suggested freeing jail cells for economic criminals he planned to arrest.
Because Putin declined to debate, his opponents lacked any formal venue to challenge his vague program. Other candidates interpreted this silence as a refusal to clarify positions on controversial issues. State television coverage of his leadership during the Chechen conflict helped consolidate his popularity while Yeltsin's approval ratings continued to fall. Analysis found that ORT and other state channels created Unity Party support from short notice through strongly supportive reporting.
Putin received over one-third of all television coverage devoted to presidential candidates, matching Zyuganov, Yavlinsky, and Zhirinovsky combined. Print media similarly gave him outsize attention even in opposition newspapers. This unbalanced exposure allowed him to win without traditional campaigning methods that characterized previous elections.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe concluded that unequal access to television was a main reason for unfairness in the campaign. Independent media faced increasing pressure while state-owned and private outlets failed to provide impartial information about candidates. The TV channel ORT launched slanderous campaigns against Grigory Yavlinsky when his ratings rose sharply. Broadcasters generally ignored candidates who did not fulfill their owners' interests.
NTV, one of Russia's main independent broadcasters, experienced growing financial and administrative pressure throughout
the electoral period. Harassment by the Kremlin apparatus targeted domestic independent and opposition media, particularly television stations. State agencies pressured outlets to avoid issuing negative reports on the Chechen War. Two primary state-controlled media sources gave overwhelmingly positive coverage to Putin's handling of the conflict.
Multiple Western journalists including Boston Globe correspondent David Fillipov were detained or expelled from Russia after straying from military guidance in Chechnya. Radio Liberty correspondent Andrei Babitsky was arrested under charges of aiding Chechens. The Kremlin applied financial pressure to Media-Most, a holding group with unfriendly coverage records. Meanwhile, Gennady Zyuganov received fairer media treatment than he had during previous presidential elections.
Polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. and closed at 8:00 p.m. on the 26th of March 2000. Vladimir Putin won the election on the first ballot with 53.4% of the vote. This result made him the incumbent prime minister and acting president who sought a four-year term in his own right. As of 2024, this remains the last Russian presidential election where losers carried federal subjects.
Putin achieved his highest official result of 85.42% in Ingushetia while securing only 29.65%
in neighboring Chechnya. Gennady Zyuganov's results ranged from 47.41% in Lipetsk region down to 4.63% in Ingushetia. Grigory Yavlinsky's support varied between 18.56% in Moscow and 0.42% in Dagestan. Vladimir Zhirinovsky's numbers spanned from 6.13% in Kamchatka region to 0.29% in Ingushetia.
The new campaign law passed in December 1999 required candidates to gather signatures for nomination. The shortened election reduced the requirement from one million signatures to 500,000. A majority in the first round was sufficient to win without needing a runoff. Stricter campaign finance provisions were also implemented under these regulations.
Chechnya presented a stark contrast with other regions despite being part of the federal subject count. Putin received 50.63% there while Zyuganov secured 22.76%. This outcome remained controversial among observers due to ongoing military campaigns and security concerns that had suspended legislative elections in December 1999. The OSCE final report on the presidential election noted these complications.
Ingushetia showed the highest support level at 85.42% for Putin but only 4.63% for Zyuganov. Dagestan delivered 76.62% for Putin against 19.78% for
Zyuganov. Moscow recorded 46.26% for Putin compared to 19.16% for Zyuganov and 18.56% for Yavlinsky. Saint Petersburg gave 62.42% to Putin while allocating 16.95% to Zyuganov and 10.58% to Yavlinsky.
Kemerovo Oblast stood out as an exception where Putin received only 25.01% while Zyuganov got 14.93%. Novosibirsk Oblast showed 39.91% for Putin versus 38.23% for Zyuganov. These regional variations demonstrated how different federal subjects responded differently to the same national campaign dynamics.
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Common questions
When did the 2000 Russian presidential election take place?
The 2000 Russian presidential election took place on the 26th of March 2000. Polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. and closed at 8:00 p.m. on that date.
How many votes did Vladimir Putin receive in the 2000 Russian presidential election?
Vladimir Putin won the election on the first ballot with 53.4% of the vote. This result made him the incumbent prime minister and acting president who sought a four-year term in his own right.
Why was the 2000 Russian presidential election considered unfair by observers?
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe concluded that unequal access to television was a main reason for unfairness in the campaign. State-owned and private outlets failed to provide impartial information about candidates while independent media faced increasing pressure.
Which region gave Vladimir Putin the highest support percentage in the 2000 Russian presidential election?
Putin achieved his highest official result of 85.42% in Ingushetia during the 2000 Russian presidential election. Dagestan delivered 76.62% for Putin against 19.78% for Zyuganov.
What were the signature requirements for candidates in the 2000 Russian presidential election?
A new campaign law passed in December 1999 required candidates to gather signatures for nomination. The shortened election reduced the requirement from one million signatures to 500,000.