Primary Formation of the Territorial Basis of Local Self-Government in Irkutsk Region (for the 30th Anniversary)

The author notes that at present there is a gradual return to the one level system of municipal entities and believes it is important in this regard to review the origins of local self-government in the Irkutsk region. The basis for the territorial organization of local self-government in Russia was the administrative-territorial division of the Soviet period. At the beginning of 1993, there were 43 territorial units of the highest level in the Irkutsk region, in which the Councils of People's Deputies, declared local self-government bodies in 1991, operated. However, the formation of the first elected bodies of local self-government in the Irkutsk region began later — during the stage-by-stage constitutional reform of 1993 based on the Regulation on the Fundamentals of the Organization of Local Self-Government in the Irkutsk Region. The main level of local self-government was recognized as the level of districts and cities of regional subordination, where mayors and Dumas were elected, the budget and municipal property were formed. At the level of district subordination territories, elders (heads of administrations) were elected, but other features of a municipal formation were absent. In conclusion, the author compares the system of local community territories that existed in 1994 with its current state. The author comes to the conclusion that they are identical. The question is raised about the advisability of preserving the territorial organization of 30 years ago without taking into account the changed demographic and economic characteristics of the territory.