What does autonomous republic mean? Since you are reading this article, you have already asked this question. So, we will understand for a start with the definition. An autonomous republic is a form of state autonomy in some countries and a political organization of the population that resides on the territory of a particular autonomy. This concept originated in the RSFSR, where the legal status of Azerbaijan was determined by the specific Regulation of the autonomous republic, and after the adoption of the "Stalinist Constitution" (USSR Constitution of 1936), it was completely consolidated in all the basic regulatory acts of the country. In the past, the RSFSR had sixteen autonomous republics. Nowadays, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (AKP) has the status of an AR, part of the Russian Federation.
The rights of the autonomous republic
The autonomous republic was characterized by such state-legal features.
- Territory and law of territorial supremacy (without the consent of the Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, the territory could not be changed).
- Citizenship (each citizen is a citizen of the RSFSR and the USSR).
- Constitution (in the Constitution of the RSFSR there was a requirement that the Constitution of the Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic take into account the peculiarities of an autonomous republic).
- The highest state authorities: the government, the highest judicial authority, the prosecutor of the Republic.
- National statehood:
- public authorities are composed of the local population, that is, people who know the language and customs of the territory;
- work is conducted both in the official language and in the language of the people of the given republic;
- own state symbols: coat of arms, flag, capital and anthem (in the USSR, the anthem was uniform).
6. Warranties:
- special order of education;
- representation in the highest state authorities;
- special guarantees of legal force of acts issued by state power.
There were times
Earlier, during the USSR, there were 16 autonomous Soviet socialist republics in the RSFSR: the Bashkir, Yakut, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkarian Autonomous Republics, Kalmyk, Karelian, Chuvash, Mari, North Ossetian, Tuva, Chechen-Ingush, Tatarskaya, Komi ASSR Buryat, Udmurt, Mordovian. All these are Russian autonomous republics.
Consider several of the above listed autonomous republics of that time, and with them the current Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
The Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was part of the RSFSR. It was formed after the signing of an agreement between the Soviet authorities and the Bashkir government in March 1919. She became the first ASSR, which is part of the RSFSR. This is the only autonomous republic that was created on the basis of contractual relations. In 1990, on October 11, a declaration was signed on state sovereignty of the very Bashkir SSR (now the Republic of Bashkortostan).
Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
The Autonomous Karelian SSR adopted the Constitution of the USSR in December 1936 and received the name Karelian Autonomous SSR. In June 1937, the Constitution of the KASSR was adopted, and the inscription of the coat of arms and flag are made in 3 languages: Russian, Finnish and Karelian. Kandalaksha district was transferred to the Murmansk region in 1938, in May. It was reorganized in the Republic of Karelia in May 1991.
Mari ASSR
Mari Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (Mari Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic) was formed in 1936, December 5. December 22, 1991 transformed into the Mari Soviet Socialist Republic (MSSR).
Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic), formerly Chuvash Autonomous Region. Later, over time, or rather, in April 1925, acquired the status of an autonomous republic. After a long period, in February 1992, it was renamed from the Chuvash SSR to the Chuvash Republic.
Yakut ASSR
The Yakut Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (Yakut Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic) lasted from 1922 to 1991. During the Great Patriotic War, more than 49,000 citizens of this Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic fought at the front, and some of them were awarded the great title - the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Today, the Yakut Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic is no longer there, but it has changed little, this whole territory has been transformed into the Republic of Sakha. It is part of the Russian Federation and is part of the Far Eastern Federal District.
Autonomous Crimean SSR
Like other autonomous republics of Russia, Crimea also has its own history and personality. Autonomous Crimean SSR was previously part of the RSFSR. Its formation took place in 1921, on October 18, and on June 25, 1946, autonomy was canceled, and Crimea was renamed the Crimean region.
- 1948 - Sevastopol receives the status of republican subordination of the RSFSR.
- In 1954, on April 26, the Crimean region was transferred to the Ukrainian SSR.
- 1991 - The Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was restored according to the results of the referendum.
- In 1992, on February 26, it was renamed the Republic of Crimea.
- 1992 (May 5) - The Supreme Council of Crimea adopts an act on the sovereign state of the Republic of Crimea.
- 1992 (May 6) - the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea is adopted.
- 1993 (June 14) - the post of the President of the ARC is introduced.
- On February 4, 1994, the first president was elected, he was Yuri Alexandrovich Meshkov.
Ukraine against
The Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea corresponded to the Constitution of Ukraine; it was adopted in 1998, on October 21. During the Crimean crisis (February - March 2014), Crimea proclaimed independence. After the referendum, the territory of Crimea, together with Sevastopol, became part of the great Russian Federation.
To this day, Ukraine does not recognize the entry of Crimea into the Russian Federation and considers the territory of the ARC and Sevastopol as occupied. Nevertheless, the majority of the population of the Crimean peninsula believe that they are not at all Ukrainians, namely Russian people. Even previous studies have shown that the Ukrainian language is native only for a small fraction of the population (10% of people), 77% said that their native language is only Russian, while the rest chose Crimean Tatar (13% of people). But despite the fact that some residents have different native languages, 97% of the Crimean population use Russian-language speech for communication.
Autonomous republics and districts after the collapse of the USSR
Over time, everything is changing, including the state, the Soviet Union was no exception. After the collapse of the USSR, an autonomous republic is only history; they ceased to exist as such (with the exception of the ARC) in the new state. Today, there are autonomous republics in Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic) and Georgia (Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and the Autonomous Republic of Adjara). How many autonomous republics are there in Russia? Not at all, they all remained in the Soviet Union, but there were four autonomous districts: Khanty-Mansiysk, Chukotsky, Yamalo-Nenets and Nenets.
Autonomous okrugs (AO)
Although an autonomous republic is only history, nevertheless, it is not forgotten. The republics were replaced by autonomous okrugs. The Autonomous Okrug is one of the six types of constituent entities of the Russian Federation, formed on a national and territorial basis. This status is determined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation and other normative acts, which is adopted by legislative and executive bodies.
The Autonomous Okrug is an equal subject of the Russian Federation and is characterized by such features as:
- own legislation (charter and other legal acts);
- own territory (it cannot be changed in any way without the consent of the subject) and the population;
- independence in resolving issues that are within the jurisdiction of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation (only within the limits of the powers of the joint-stock company);
- the opportunity to independently participate in international and foreign economic relations, the district has every right to conclude agreements (including trade), both at the federal and international levels.
If the joint-stock company is not able to regulate any relations with the territories or regions of which it is a member, then it has the right to conclude an agreement with him on the basis of which the incident will be settled.
Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Nenets Autonomous Okrug is another constituent entity of the Russian Federation that is part of the Arkhangelsk Region (based on the Charter of the Arkhangelsk Region). Belongs to the Northwestern Federal District. It is considered the most sparsely populated subject of the Russian Federation. The administrative capital is Naryan-Mar, a city with a population of 22,912 people. This district was formed in 1929. In the west, it borders with the Arkhangelsk region, and in the east it is adjacent to the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District.
Ugra
The subject of the Russian Federation is Ugra (Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area). Based on the charter of the Tyumen region, Ugra is a part of the Tyumen region itself, the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug is an equal subject of Russia. It belongs to the Ural Federal District, and was formed in 1930. The Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug is an economically self-sufficient donor region.
Khanty-Mansiysk is the administrative center of this district.
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
It is located near the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Kamchatka Territory, and also borders on the Magadan Region, and in the east - with the USA. The entire territory of the district is the region of the far north. The administrative capital of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug is the city of Anadyr.
Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug
It is part of the Tyumen region (according to its charter), but at the same time it is an equal subject of the Russian Federation. This district was formed in 1930. Its administrative center is the city of Salekhard. The Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug borders with the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Ugra (Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug), Krasnoyarsk Territory, and the Republic of Komi. An interesting fact: in 2011, 7.1% of all oil in the country was produced in this joint-stock company.
Conclusion
The main difference between an autonomous region (republic) and an autonomous region is that the region, although it has its own charter, cannot be part of other entities, nor can it be included in it. This article ends here, and I really want to believe that after reading it, you will learn the answers to your questions and understand that the autonomous region and the autonomous republic are not the same thing.