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The Red Belt or Red Zone (Russian: Красный пояс) was a group of Russian regions which gave stable support to the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and other left parties in local and federal elections. The term came into wide use from the mid-1990s after Communist candidates won a number of regions from non-Communist opposition candidates. The "red zone" comprised predominantly agricultural areas of Central Russia, the national republics of the North Caucasus, as well as a number of the southern regions of Siberia and the Far East. The agricultural areas in the "Red Zone" were being privatized while the rest of Russia was a more open market.[1]
With the coming to power of Vladimir Putin (Acting President from 31 December 1999) and reduced support for the Communist Party, the "red belt" ceased to exist.[citation needed]