RYAZAN, Russia — A funny thing happened during the elections this fall for governor in the Russian region of Ryazan: for a few weeks, no one knew who would win.

An insurgent appeared from within the local nomenklatura, and it looked as if he might beat the bland former construction engineer whom the Kremlin appointed governor in 2008. Igor N. Morozov, a former intelligence officer, was so convincing that local officials began abandoning the incumbent, knowing that they risked their careers by doing so. Here was a case of actual political competition.

That is what Dmitri A. Medvedev promised in December when, as president, he reinstated the direct election of governors, reversing a decision in 2004 by his predecessor, Vladimir V. Putin. But the Kremlin has hollowed out that promise. Voters in five Russian regions will cast votes for governor on Oct. 14, but the contests have been micromanaged from Moscow, which imposed strict screening of candidates to avoid any uncertainty in the outcome.

Ryazan was the exception — until it proved the rule. Just as experts were beginning to point to a real horse race, Mr. Morozov was summoned for urgent consultations with Kremlin officials. The next day he appeared at an awkward news conference and said he was dropping out. His campaign, he explained, had created the “threat of a split in society.” In return, it seemed, he would be named a senator.