According to the Constitution of Russia, republics within the Russian Federation are state formations of one or another people, while possessing the same rights as other subjects of the Federation, but with some additions. For example, they can have their own constitutions that do not contradict Russian, as well as establish state languages in addition to Russian. Most of the modern republics within the Russian Federation were created in Soviet times and had the status of autonomous republics or regions. All republics differ in area and national history. The structure of the Russian Federation includes republics with a very different history and cultural traditions. However, despite all the differences, they are all equal in rights.
Republics of the Russian Federation
National republics are located in the Southern, North Caucasian, North-Western, Siberian and Far Eastern districts. The largest republic on the map of the Russian Federation is Yakutia, whose area is 3 083 523 square kilometers and a population of 959 875 people. Yakutia is located in the Far Eastern Federal District.
The smallest republic within the Russian Federation is Ingushetia, located in the North Caucasus Federal District. The area of Ingushetia barely exceeds 3628 square kilometers.
The northernmost is the Republic of Karelia, belonging to the North-Western District. Despite the fact that the area of Yakutia is 18% of the territory of Russia, and the territory of Ingushetia is only 0.02%, their status in the legal system of the Russian Federation is exactly the same, as it is established by the constitution regardless of the area, population, or economy.
Republic of the North Caucasus
The North Caucasus Federal District is the undisputed leader in the number of national republics on the map of the Russian Federation, national, cultural and linguistic diversity. In Soviet times, autonomous national regions were created on the territory of the compact residence of some peoples, later transformed into the Republic.
The history of the Caucasian republics is quite dramatic, since their borders and the area of the territory have repeatedly changed or completely eliminated autonomy, as happened after the Great Patriotic War with Ingushetia and Chechnya. Many peoples of the Caucasus became victims of deportation. However, during Khrushchev’s time, autonomy was restored, and deported peoples gained the right to return to their historical homeland. Today in the North Caucasus there are seven republics, which include: Adygea, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, North Ossetia-Alania, the Chechen Republic.
The capitals of the republics within the Russian Federation
Each republic, according to its constitution, has a capital in which such government bodies as the parliament, presidential administration, government and the Supreme Court of the republic are located.
Today, twenty-two republics are part of Russia. Having answered the question of how many republics are part of the Russian Federation, it is worth listing them:
- Adygea (Maykop).
- Altai Republic (Gorno-Altaysk).
- Bashkiria (Ufa).
- Buryatia (Ulan-Ude).
- Dagestan (Makhachkala).
- Ingushetia (Magas).
- Kabardino-Balkaria (Nalchik).
- Kalmykia (Elista).
- Karachay-Cherkessia (Cherkessk).
- Karelia (Petrozavodsk).
- Komi Republic (Syktyvkar).
- Republic of Mari-El (Yoshkar-Ola).
- Mordovia (Saransk).
- Republic of Yakutia (Yakutsk).
- Republic of North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz).
- Tatarstan (Kazan).
- Republic of Tuva (Kyzyl).
- Udmurtia (Izhevsk).
- Khakass Republic (Abakan).
- Chechen Republic (Grozny).
- Republic of Chuvashia (Cheboksary).
- Republic of Crimea (Simferopol).
Legal status of republics
Each republic must satisfy certain requirements in order to be considered a public entity. First of all, it has a territory whose borders are set by an internal agreement and cannot be changed without the consent of the republic itself. Any changes to the borders on the map of the Russian Federation are carried out with the mutual consent of the constituent entities of the federation and subject to the established procedure.
Each republic has its own public authorities such as the legislature, government, the head of the republic, the Supreme and the Arbitration Courts. All executive bodies of the republics are embedded in the system of state power of the Russian Federation, so the prosecutor general of the republic is subordinate to the prosecutor general of the Russian Federation. All republics have their own representative offices under the President of Russia.
Volga Republic
Another important region in which a significant number of national republics is concentrated is the Volga region. Most national autonomies were created in the early years of Soviet power with the direct participation of Lenin.
The most populated republic of the Volga Federal District is Bashkiria, whose population exceeds four million people. Next comes Tatarstan with a population of three million nine hundred thousand inhabitants. In addition to these republics, there are also Mari-El, Chuvashia, Udmurtia and Mordovia in the district.
The population of the region speaks languages belonging to seven language families, which creates significant linguistic diversity.
Asian part of Russia
The most sparsely populated republic of the Siberian district is Altai with its capital in Gorno-Altaysk. The population of the entire subject barely exceeded 218,000, while the population of the capital of the region is 63,000, that is, more than a quarter of the total population of the republic.
In addition to borders with neighboring regions, the republic has common borders with Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan. The economy of Altai is based on livestock and tourism, which has become increasingly important recently.
The population of the Republic of Buryatia is 984 000 people. Like Altai, the republic also borders Mongolia, but tourism in it is much less developed. The economy of the republic belongs to the agro-industrial type. Despite the fact that the republic cannot boast of a variety of minerals, up to 48% of Russia's explored zinc reserves are located on its territory, and in addition, there are several large deposits of placer gold.
The population of the Republic of Tuva barely exceeds 320 000 thousand people, and the number of residents of Khakassia exceeds 537 000 people, but has been steadily declining in recent years.
Republic of Crimea
The youngest subject of the Russian Federation is the Republic of Crimea, which was formed on March 18, 2014. The republic was formed following a referendum, as a result of which the peninsula withdrew from Ukraine and joined Russia.
The economy of Crimea is relatively poorly developed, but in recent years it has been demonstrating a small but steady growth. It is also worth considering the fact that the Republic of Crimea became a part of the Russian Federation only in 2014, which means that its economy is still influenced by the processes and policies implemented during the period of control by Ukraine. However, the significant infrastructural changes that are being carried out on the peninsula give hope that the situation in the economy can radically change for the better in the near future.
State building in Russia
Relations between subjects of the federation and the federal center, among other ways, are also regulated by bilateral federal treaties, in the framework of which the parties agree on the division of powers and obligations.
In particular, republics have the right to discuss in these documents the status of state languages and the number of hours that they can be taught in schools as part of the compulsory program.