Since some of my English speaking friends sometimes ask about the status of various Russian subdivisions like republics, krais (territories), oblasts (regions) etc I suggest a discussion because I am not sure about the juristic status of these myself 
Russia is divided in 88 subjects. Each subject is either a republic or krai or oblast. Republics (Chechnya, Tatarstan, Chuvashia, Bashkortostan etc) are most independent.
I’ve been reading up on Tatarstan, so what’s the deal with subjects of Russian Federation, i.e. republics? Are these the same as «states» in U.S. & Australia where the state is free to make its own laws, but if the «state» doesn’t have a law for particular matter, federal law applies?
Here is a wikipedia article more or less explaining the status of republic: Republics of Russia. However it does not mention whether the federal laws apply in a republic in cases where there is no local law. I guess the answer is «no», the republic’s «constitution» is supposed to be a full-blown law is it? What do you think? Forgive me my ignorance — never been too good in laws which also keep changing constantly (see for example how Tatarstan’s status changed over years: Tatarstan on Wikipedia).
As for other subjects (krais and oblasts) they are pretty much the same except they don’t have their own official language nor their own set of laws — constitution.
Furthermore, most of subjects are divided into lesser structural elements, raions.
P.S. Please comment in English for obvious reasons!
#1 by Chris Burnley on Сентябрь 12, 2006 - 10:12
It is all very complicated !
I was also reading about the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, a (failed) Stalinist Jewish utopia invented to squash any Zionist movement in the 1930s.
#2 by Alexey on Сентябрь 12, 2006 - 10:17
I think the structure of Russia reflects it historical internal bardak (since we’re speaking in russian terms — means disorder, mess, disarray according to Russian Slang & Colloquialisms).
#3 by Alexey on Сентябрь 12, 2006 - 10:52
Interestingly, Russian Wikipedia article on Jewish Autonomous Oblast is a set of dry statements about the nature specifics and description of natural resources of the region while English article concentrates on a history and is an interesting read indeed.
#4 by Leonid Mamchenkov on Сентябрь 12, 2006 - 11:16
I just realized that I never seriously thought about the structure of the country.
#5 by Alexey on Сентябрь 12, 2006 - 13:11
Me either — I din’t care much whether we lived in Tataria, Tatar ASSR, Tatarstan Republic, or any hell they called it. When I was in the yearly years of school I new that my grandma lived in Stavropolsky krai which was a «proper» Russia while I lived in Tataria which was Russia but not quite
.
#6 by Alexander on Сентябрь 20, 2006 - 17:55
I’ve got a comment on constitution of republics. As far as know they SHOULD match the federal constitution and there was a period of time when Tatarstan’s one didn’t fit that requirement. Eventually it was changed: the articles contradicting the the federal ones were either removed or amended. As to the laws I’m not quite sure but I’ve got strong impression that federal laws can not be overriden locally unless they specifically state that. E.g. Tatarstan republic was charging vehicles from other regions for crossing Volga river using the bridge next to Kazan. This practice was contradicting federal laws and was eventually stopped by federal authorities, so the mess was cleaned up.
But some stuff can be regulated locally, e.g. school education: Tatar language in Tatarstan is obligatory subject and in terms of hours is taught twice more that Russian language.