Neither in the city of Ivan, nor in the village of Selifan (paradoxes of a new approach to the territorial organization of local self-government)

Abstract

The article considers the issue of relationship between the concepts of 'administrative-territorial division' and 'territorial organization of local self-government'. Regular changes in the definition of the concept 'city district', setting up new types of municipalities create confusion, where not only ordinary citizens but also authority figures are in no state to deal with. Quite frequently in city districts' charters one can come across the notion 'head of city' whereas the city district apart from the city embraces a dozen rural settlements. The residents of villagers are puzzled if they are now citizens or continue to be villagers. The author proposes to reconsider the concept 'administrative-territorial unit' when applied to cities, rayons, settlements, villages as no administrative decisions are taken by them as they are just a seat for federal state bodies.