Article is devoted to the objective and subjective conditions of the electoral crisis in Astrakhan in 2012. The article concludes that the emergence of political crisis and the protest movement in Astrakhan in spring 2012 was predetermined by the whole course of the modern Russian political process. General condition of the political crisis was degradation of the electoral process in Russia. The emergence of the crisis is in Astrakhan was predetermined by the presence in the city strong local opposition, which was a threat to the ruling groups in the democratic electoral process. Pressure on the opposition in Astrakhan and election fraud were therefore the most rude. Curtailment of democratic procedures and the pressure on the opposition became the reason for the protest movement in Astrakhan.

Article is devoted to the objective and subjective conditions of the electoral crisis in Astrakhan in 2012. The article concludes that the emergence of political crisis and the protest movement in Astrakhan in spring 2012 was predetermined by the whole course of the modern Russian political process. General condition of the political crisis was degradation of the electoral process in Russia. The emergence of the crisis is in Astrakhan was predetermined by the presence in the city strong local opposition, which was a threat to the ruling groups in the democratic electoral process. Pressure on the opposition in Astrakhan and election fraud were therefore the most rude. Curtailment of democratic procedures and the pressure on the opposition became the reason for the protest movement in Astrakhan.