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{{about||the song by the band Jinn|Raion (song)|the synthetic fiber|rayon}} |
{{about||the song by the band Jinn|Raion (song)|the synthetic fiber|rayon}} |
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A '''raion''' ( |
A '''raion''' (also '''rayon''' or '''rajon''') is a type of administrative unit of several [[post-Soviet]] countries (such as part of an [[oblast]]). The term, which is from French "''rayon''" (meaning "honeycomb, department"),<ref>[[Merriam-Webster]]'s ''Third New International Dictionary'' (1961, repr. 1981), s.v. ''raion''.</ref> describes both a type of a [[subnational entity]] and a division of a city, and is commonly translated in English as "[[district]]". The term "raion" also can be used simply as a second degree of administrative division without anything to do with ethnicity or nationality. A raion is usually an administrative entity as subdivided two steps below the national level. However, in smaller countries, it could be the primary level of administrative division. |
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The word "raion" (or "rayon") is often used in translated form: {{lang-ru/uk|райо́н}}, {{lang-az|rayon}}; {{lang-be|раён}}; {{lang-ka|რაიონი}}, ''raioni''; {{lang-lv|rajons}}; {{lang-lt|rajonas}}; {{lang-ro|raion}}. |
The word "raion" (or "rayon") is often used in translated form: {{lang-ru/uk|райо́н}}, {{lang-az|rayon}}; {{lang-be|раён}}; {{lang-ka|რაიონი}}, ''raioni''; {{lang-lv|rajons}}; {{lang-lt|rajonas}}; {{lang-ro|raion}}. |
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Revision as of 14:16, 15 April 2013
A raion (also rayon or rajon) is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet countries (such as part of an oblast). The term, which is from French "rayon" (meaning "honeycomb, department"),[1] describes both a type of a subnational entity and a division of a city, and is commonly translated in English as "district". The term "raion" also can be used simply as a second degree of administrative division without anything to do with ethnicity or nationality. A raion is usually an administrative entity as subdivided two steps below the national level. However, in smaller countries, it could be the primary level of administrative division.
The word "raion" (or "rayon") is often used in translated form: Template:Lang-ru/uk, Template:Lang-az; Template:Lang-be; Georgian: რაიონი, raioni; Template:Lang-lv; Template:Lang-lt; Template:Lang-ro.
History
Raions in the Soviet Union
In the Soviet Union, raions were administrative divisions created in the 1920s to reduce the number of territorial divisions inherited from the Russian Empire and to simplify their bureaucracies.[2] The process of conversion to the system of raions was called raionirovanie ("regionalization"). It was started in 1923 in the Urals, North Caucasus, and Siberia as a part of the Soviet administrative reform and continued through 1929, by which time the majority of the country's territory was divided into raions instead of the old volosts and uyezds.[2]
The concept of raionirovanie was met with resistance in some republics, especially in Ukraine, where local leaders objected to the concept of raions as being too centralized in nature and ignoring the local customs. This point of view was backed by the Soviet Commissariat of Nationalities.[2] Nevertheless, eventually all of the territory of the Soviet Union was regionalized.
Soviet raions had self-governance in the form of an elected district council (raysovet) and were headed by the local head of administration, who was either elected or appointed.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, raions as administrative units continued to be used in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Latvia, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine.
Raions in the People's Republic of Romania
Latvia
- Districts of Latvia until July 1, 2009.
Georgia
- Districts of Georgia, before 2006, Georgian: რაიონი raioni.
Modern raions
Azerbaijan
Belarus
In Belarus, raions are administrative units subordinated to voblasts. See also: Category:Districts of Belarus.
Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, raions are subdivisions of three biggest cities: Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna. Sofia is subdivided to 24 raions (Sofia districts), Plovdiv - 6, Varna - 5 raions.
Moldova
Transnistria
Russian Federation
Administrative raions
In modern Russia, division into administrative raions largely remained unchanged after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The term "raion" is used to refer to an administrative division of a federal subject or to a district of a big city. In two federal subjects, however, the terminology was changed to reflect national specifics:
- Sakha (Yakutia) Republic: ulus (улус)
- Tyva Republic: kozhuun (кожуун)[3]
Municipal raion
A municipal raion (municipal district, муниципа́льный райо́н) is a type of municipal formation which comprises a group of urban and/or rural settlements, as well as inter-settlement territories, sharing a common territory. The concept of the municipal districts was introduced during the 2004 municipal reform.
Municipal districts are commonly formed within the boundaries of existing administrative districts, although in practice there are some exceptions to this rule—Neryungrinsky Municipal District in the Sakha Republic, for example, is formed around the town of Neryungri, which neither has a status of nor is a part of any administrative district.
Ukraine
In Ukraine, there are a total of 450 raions which are the administrative divisions of oblasts (provinces) and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Major cities of regional significance as well as the two national cities with special status (Kiev and Sevastopol) are also subdivided into raions (constituting a total of 111 nationwide).
Notes
References
- 6 мая 2001 г. «Конституция Республики Тыва», в ред. Конституционного закона №1419 ВХ-2 от 10 июля 2009 г «О внесении изменений в статью 113 Конституции Республики Тыва». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Тувинская правда", 15 мая 2001 г. (May 6, 2001 Constitution of the Tyva Republic, as amended by the Constitutional Law #1419 VKh-2 of July 10, 2009 On Amending Article 113 of the Constitution of the Tyva Republic. Effective as of the official publication date.).