| Election Name: | 1997 Russian gubernatorial elections |
| Country: | Russia |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1996 Russian gubernatorial elections |
| Previous Year: | 1996 |
| Election Date: | 12 January – 28 December 1997 |
| Next Election: | 1998 Russian gubernatorial elections |
| Next Year: | 1998 |
| Seats For Election: | 14 Heads of Federal Subjects from 89 |
| Alliance1: | People's Patriotic Union of Russia (NPSR) |
| Leader1: | Gennady Zyuganov |
| Image1: | Zyuganov portrait (cropped).jpg |
| Image1 Size: | 100px |
| Colour1: | CC1111 |
| Alliance2: | All-Russian Coordination Council (OKS) |
| Leader2: | Sergey Filatov |
| Image2 Size: | 100px |
| Colour2: | 23238E |
Gubernatorial elections in 1997 took place in 14 regions of the Russian Federation.
In January–March 1997, the process of holding first gubernatorial elections in all regions of Russia, which began in September 1996, was practically completed. By January 1, six governors-appointees remained in power: Leonid Roketsky in Tyumen Oblast, Yury Lyashko in Amur Oblast, Bolot Ayushiyev in ABAO, Nikolai Sevryugin in Tula Oblast, Mikhail Kislyuk in Kemerovo Oblast and Anatoly Yakimov in Evenkia. By April only Kislyuk remained in office, instead of whom Aman Tuleyev was appointed on June 30.
In the first quarter of 1997, re-elections of presidents of four republics (Mari El, Adygea, Kabardino-Balkaria, Tuva) and presidential elections in the breakaway Chechen Republic of Ichkeria were also held. In the summer, early elections were held for the governors of Nizhny Novgorod and Irkutsk Oblasts after resignations of Boris Nemtsov and Yury Nozhikov, and in the fall the head of Kemerovo Oblast administration was elected.
By decision of the legislative assemblies, re-elections of the head of the administration of Oryol Oblast and the head of the Komi Republic were held six months ahead of schedule. In December, the re-election in Chuvashia and the first election of the Head of the Altai Republic took place.
| Federal Subject | Date | Incumbent | Incumbent status | Candidates | Governor-elect | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elected 1992 |
| Aslan Dzharimov | ||||||
| Elected 1992 | Valery Kokov 99.35% (ran unopposed) | Valery Kokov | ||||||
| Agin-Buryat AO (revote) | Appointed 1996, removed on 6 February 1997 |
| Bair Zhamsuyev (OKS) | |||||
| Elected 1992 |
| Sherig-ool Oorzhak | ||||||
| Evenkia (revote) | Appointed 1991 |
| Aleksandr Bokovikov (NPSR) | |||||
| Amur Oblast (revote) | Appointed 1996 |
| Anatoly Belonogov (CPRF/NPSR) | |||||
| Appointed 1995 |
| Vasily Starodubtsev (CPRF/NPSR) | ||||||
| , 13 July | Resigned from office |
| Ivan Sklyarov | |||||
| Resigned from office |
| Boris Govorin (NDR/OKS) | ||||||
| Appointed 1997 |
| Aman Tuleyev (NPSR) | ||||||
| 26 October | Elected 1993 | Yegor Stroyev 95.1% | Yegor Stroyev (NDR) | |||||
| 30 November | Elected 1994 |
| Yury Spiridonov (NDR) | |||||
| 14 December | PM from August 1997 |
| Semyon Zubakin (DVR) | |||||
| Chuvashia[1] | 28 December | Nikolay Fyodorov/Enver Ablyakimov | Elected 1993 |
| Nikolay Fyodorov / Lev Kurakov | |||