Narutto, S.V. Special territorial units within the constituent subjects of the Russian Federation

Abstract: The article is devoted to the specific features of regulation of some territories of the constituent subjects of the Russian Federation, which differ from the regular administrative and territorial units. In the point of view of the author, such territories include the following: firstly, the administrative territorial units having special status (the territories of the former constituent subjects of the Russian Federation, which lost their status in the process of merging with other constituent subjects of the Russian Federation) and capitals of the Republics (administrative centers of other constituent subjects of the Russian Federation, etc.); secondly, the territories having special status, which are not administrative territorial units (specially protected territories, territories of emergency situations, tourist territories, etc.). The analysis of the Statutes of the five new (united) constituent subjects of the Russian Federation (regions and districts) shows that the six autonomous districts, which were included into them and therefore lost their independent status as constituent subjects of the Russian Federation while retaining their territorial integrity, became administrative territorial units with a special status. It is noted that there is lack of due legal regulation on both federal and regional levels, and especially so in the sphere of protection of indigenous small-numbered peoples. The author questions lawfulness of the transformation of administrative territorial units having special status into the single municipal unit. The article also includes analysis of the capitals (administrative centers) of the constituent subjects of the Russian Federation as special territorial units, having an important function. The author pays attention to the definition of status of specially protected natural sites of regional value, and she points out some specific features of their regulation in various constituent subjects.

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