AUTONOMOUS OKRUG

Autonomous Okrug: translation

(AOk)

Political subdivision of the Russian Federation. Known as national okrugs until 1977, the Autonomous Okrugs arefederal subjectsof the Russian Federation that are, in most cases, simultaneously subordinated to another federal subject. In each case, the AOk possesses at least one non-Russian titular population; however, these units possess less sovereignty thanethnic republics. Today, only four AOks remain:Nenetsiya,Yamaliya,Khantiya-Mansiya, andChukotka.The current AOks are all located in Russia’sFar North. Since 1990, the number of AOks within Russia has been substantially reduced, particularly under the presidency ofVladimir Putin, who publicly declared his intention to streamline the federal system upon entering office. In recent years, the lesserBuryathomelands of Aga-Buryatiya and Ust Orda were respectively incorporated intoZabaykalsky KraiandIrkutsk Oblast;EvenkiyaandTaymyriyabecame districts ofKrasnoyarsk Krai; Komi-Permyakiya was subsumed withinPerm Krai; andKoryakiyawas demoted to a district ofKamchatka Krai.

See alsoBuryatiya.