Läänineuvostoin

Läänineuvostoin was a term used in Estonia during the Soviet occupation, referring to the councils of deputies of the working people at the county level. These bodies were part of the hierarchical system of Soviets established throughout the Soviet Union. In Estonia, they functioned as the primary administrative and legislative organs within each of the designated administrative regions, known as *läänid* (counties).

These läänineuvostoin were elected by the population of their respective counties, though in practice, candidate selection was heavily controlled by the Communist Party of Estonia. The deputies were expected to implement the policies set forth by higher Soviet authorities and to oversee local economic, social, and cultural affairs. Their activities included managing local industries, agriculture, education, healthcare, and public services.

The läänineuvostoin were subordinate to the Estonian SSR's Supreme Soviet and its Presidium, as well as the all-Union Soviet government. While they possessed a degree of autonomy in local matters, their decision-making power was ultimately limited by the overarching political and economic directives of the Soviet state. The system aimed to project an image of local self-governance but was fundamentally an instrument of centralized control. Following Estonia's restoration of independence in 1991, the Soviet administrative structures, including the läänineuvostoin, were abolished and replaced with pre-Soviet administrative divisions and new forms of local government.