[5] In 1996 Vladimir Yetylin challenged incumbent Governor of Chukotka AO Aleksandr Nazarov, who was supported by the pro-Yeltsin All-Russian Coordination Council (OKS).

Incumbent deputy for the Chukotka constituency Vladimir Babichev decided to retire which created an open seat contest.

However, this time incumbent Governor Aleksandr Nazarov faced a strong challenge from State Duma member Roman Abramovich.

In September 2000, 3 months before the election, a controversy surfaced surrounding the disappearance of nearly $35 million from the Economy of Chukotka Fund, led by Nazarov's aide Oleg Savchenko.

[12] After the election Roman Abramovich made peace with his former opponents: he appointed former Governor Nazarov to the Federation Council and named Vladimir Yetylin his advisor for indigenous people of the North problems.

Vladimir Yetylin ran in the by-election but faced a serious opponent in Chief Federal Inspector for Chukotka Boris Vetoshev.

In 2003 Yetylin ran for re-election as a NPRF candidate in both the Chukotka constituency and in party list (No.1 in Far Eastern territorial group).

In the general election NPRF received only 1.17% nationally (2.31% in Chukotka) and failed to pass a threshold, which resulted in Yetylin losing his seat.

After leaving State Duma Yetylin founded regional organisation "Rebirth of Chukotka" and became vice president for traditional sectors' issues of the Russian Association of the Indigenous People of the North, Siberia and the Far East.