Republic of Karelia
The Republic of Karelia is one of the most politically competitive and protest-oriented regions in Russia. As of mid-2026, its parliament includes seven factions. This is explained, among other factors, by Karelia’s long-standing ties with Finland and the European Union. The collapse of relations with Europe following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 triggered a severe economic crisis, especially after Finland fully closed all border crossings in autumn 2023. Karelia ranks among Russia’s leading regions by number of “foreign agents” per capita.
