Institution of Heads of Subjects of the Russian Federation in the Context of Federal Relations (Case Study of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia))

The article analyzes the development of the institution of Heads of the constituent entities of Russia in the context of the development of federalism. During the 1990s, in the period characterized by a decentralized approach, governors significantly increased their political status, particularly the heads of republics. However, in the 2000s, a discernible trend towards the strengthening of vertical power emerged, which predetermined a reduction in regional influence over interactions with the federal center. The changes affected the procedure for forming the Federation Council, changing the procedure for electing the heads of the subjects. Governors became accountable to the federal center for key socio-economic indicators and received additional legitimacy following the reinstatement of direct elections. The positions of governors are also influenced by various ratings of expert and analytical centers. In emergency situations, such as a pandemic, governors receive additional powers, which develops decentralization processes. The latest regional elections of the Head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) confirmed the authority of the current head A. Nikolaev. In recent years, he has occupied leading positions in the ratings of the heads of the subjects. The residents of the republic, as the largest subject of the Far East and the republic, have requests for the implementation of a stable policy in the form of effective development measures by the current government, represented by the Head of the republic.