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Russia is the world’s largest country in terms of territory and covers an area of 17,075,400 square kilometers (6,592,849 sq. miles). As of November 2009 the population of Russia was 141.9 million, according to the State Statistics Service. The capital, and by far the largest city in Russia is Moscow. The Moscow City Government estimated its population as 10,531,100 in September 2009.
The Russian Federation is divided into 83 federal subjects (субъект Российской Федерации), of which there are 46 regions(область), 21 republics (республика) 4 autonomous districts (Автономный округ), 9 territories (край), one autonomous region(Автономная область) and two federal cities (Город федерального значения) For a full list click on the link to the right.
Republics are the most independent of Russia’s federal subjects. Listed in the Russian constitution as states, they are entitled to have their own constitution and official languages. They cannot be part of, or include other federal subjects.
Autonomous districts have their own charter. They are subject to federal law on autonomous districts. They can include territories or regions, but cannot be included in other federal subjects.
Federal cities have their own charter, and cannot be part of, or include other federal subjects.
Autonomous regions have their own charter. They are listed in the Russian constitution and are subject to the federal law on autonomous regions. They cannot be part of or included in other federal subjects.
Territories and regions have their own charter and whilst they cannot be part of any other federal subject of the Russian Federation, they can be part of an autonomous district.
Under President Vladimir Putin, several federal subjects were merged: In December 2005, Perm region and Komi-Permyak autonomous district merged into Perm territory. In 2007, Evenk and Taimyr autonomous districts were merged into Krasnoyarsk territory. In the same year Kamchatka region and Koryak autonomous district merged to form Kamchatka territory. In 2008 Ust-Ordynsky Buryatsky autonomous district became part of Irkutsk region and Chita region and Aginsk-Buryatsky autonomous district merged to form Zabaykalsky territory.
Subject heads also lost their seats in the Federation Council and are now subject to the authority of the heads of the newly formed federal districts
Federal Districts
The Russian Federation is also divided into eight federal districts
(федеральные округа), each of which has a presidential envoy
(Полномочный представитель Президента Российской Федерации в федеральном
округе) who oversees the work of federal agencies in the regions.
Reporting directly to the president, these envoys ensure that federal
law is not undermined by powerful local elites. They enable the central
government to more easily and efficiently influence the regions.
Federal districts were introduced in May
2000 by then-President Vladimir Putin. They originally numbered seven:
the Central, Southern, Northwestern, Far Eastern, Siberian, Urals, and
Volga federal districts. In January 2010 a new, North Caucasus federal
district was added, comprising territory previously belonging to the
Southern Federal District.
For a list of the regions included in each
federal district and the current presidential envoy for each region,
click here.
Time Zones
Russia has a total of nine time zones: Kaliningrad, Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Yakutsk, Vladivostok and Magadan. Within the Sakha Republic three time zones are observed: Yakutsk, Vladivostok and Magadan and within Sakhalin Region two time zones are observed: Vladivostok and Magadan. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s amendments were made to Russia’s time zones. In March 2010 the Samara and Kamchatka time zones were abolished. Russia observes daylight saving time in line with European Summer and Winter Time.
Related links:
Russian State Statistics Service Web site
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