A raion (or rayon) (Russian and Ukrainian: райо́н; Belarusian раён; Azeri: rayon, Latvian: rajons, Georgian: რაიონი, raioni) is one of two kinds of administrative subdivisions in languages of some post-Soviet states: a subnational entity and a subdivision of a city. In these senses the term is almost always translated as "district". Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ... The Post-Soviet states, also commonly known as former Soviet republics, are the independent nations which split off from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in its breakup in 1991. ... Subnational entity is a generic term for an administrative region within a country — on an arbitrary level below that of the sovereign state — typically with a local government encompassing multiple municipalities, counties, or provinces with a certain degree of autonomy in a varying number of matters. ... Local government areas called districts are used, or have been used, in several countries. ...

Raion is a subnational entity of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Latvia, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the former Soviet Union. As an administrative subdivision, the term was introduced by the Soviet administrative reform of 1923–1929 that transformed many former volosts and uyezds of the Russian Empire into raions. 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Volost or volost (Russian: ) was a traditional administrative subdivision in Russia. ... Uyezd or uezd (Russian: ) was an admistrative subdivision of Rus, Muscovy, and Russia used from the 13th century, originally describing groups of several volosts formed around the most important cities. ... Official language Russian Official Religion Russian Orthodox Christianity Capital Saint Petersburg (Petrograd 1914-1925) Area Approx. ...

A raion is usually an entity two steps below the national level. It can be a subordinate part:

• of a voblasts' (in Belarus);
• of an oblast, krai, autonomous republic, autonomous district, or big city (in Russia);
• of a small Soviet republic (SSR), oblast, krai, republic, or a big city of a large SSR (in the now-defunct Soviet Union);
• of an oblast, a big city, or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (in Ukraine).

Typically, raions have some degree of self-governance in the form of a popularly elected district council (Raysovet) and the local head of administration, sometimes elected and sometimes appointed. Oblast (Czech: oblast, Slovak: oblasÅ¥, Russian and Ukrainian: , Belarusian: , Bulgarian: о́бласт) refers to a subnational entity in some countries. ... Oblast (Czech: oblast, Slovak: oblasÅ¥, Russian and Ukrainian: , Belarusian: , Bulgarian: о́бласт) refers to a subnational entity in some countries. ... Krai (Russian: край; British English transliteration: kray), is a term used to refer to several of Russias 89 administrative regions (federal subjects). ... A significant number of autonomous republics can be found within the successor states of the Soviet Union, but the majority are located within Russia. ... An autonomous region or autonomous district is a subnational region with special powers of self-rule. ... Night view of Taipei City. ... Soviet Republic may refer to one of the following states. ... Oblast (Czech: oblast, Slovak: oblasÅ¥, Russian and Ukrainian: , Belarusian: , Bulgarian: о́бласт) refers to a subnational entity in some countries. ... The Crimea (officially Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ukrainian transliteration: Avtonomna Respublika Krym, Ukrainian: Автономна Республіка Крим, Russian: Автономная Республика Крым, pronounced cry-MEE-ah in English) is a peninsula and an Ukraine on the northern coast of the Black Sea. ...

Raions in the Russian Federation

Subdivision into raions largely remained after the collapse of the Soviet Union. However in many places the terminology changed, to reflect national specifics: The rise of Gorbachev Although reform stalled between 1964–1982, the generational shift gave new momentum for reform. ...

• Republic of Karelia—raions coexist with volosts (волости). Both types are considered to be on the same administrative level.
• Sakha (Yakutia) Republic—ulus (улус).
• Tuva Republic—kozhuun (кожуун).

The Republic of Karelia (Russian: ) is a federal subject of the Russian Federation (a republic). ... Volost or volost (Russian: ) was a traditional administrative subdivision in Russia. ... The Sakha (Yakutia) Republic (Russian: ; Yakut: Саха Республиката) is a federal subject of Russia (a republic). ... An ulus (Russian: улу́с) is the subdivision type of Sakha (Yakutia) Republic of the Russian Federation. ... The Tuva Republic (Russian: ; Tuvan: Тыва Республика) is a federal subject of Russia (a republic). ... A kozhuun (Russian: кожуун) is the subdivision type of Tyva Republic of the Russian Federation. ...

See also

• Subdivisions of Russia
• Subdivisions of Ukraine
  • Subdivisions of Kiev
• Subdivisions of Belarus
• Subdivisions of Azerbaijan
• Districts of Latvia