Autonomous Okrug

(AOk)

   Political subdivision of the Russian Federation. Known as national okrugs until 1977, the Autonomous Okrugs are federal subjects of 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 than ethnic republics. Today, only four AOks remain: Nenetsiya, Yamaliya, Khantiya-Mansiya, and Chukotka. The current AOks are all located in Russia’s Far North. Since 1990, the number of AOks within Russia has been substantially reduced, particularly under the presidency of Vladimir Putin, who publicly declared his intention to streamline the federal system upon entering office. In recent years, the lesser Buryat homelands of Aga-Buryatiya and Ust Orda were respectively incorporated into Zabaykalsky Krai and Irkutsk Oblast; Evenkiya and Taymyriya became districts of Krasnoyarsk Krai; Komi-Permyakiya was subsumed within Perm Krai; and Koryakiya was demoted to a district of Kamchatka Krai.

   See also Buryatiya.