Selsoviets

A selsoviet, short for selsky sovet, meaning rural council, is a form of rural local self-government that originated in the Soviet Union and remains part of the administrative terminology in some post-Soviet states. It was the lowest level of the administrative-territorial division within a district (raion), and it grouped a number of rural localities, such as villages and hamlets, under a single elected council and its executive head.

Historically, the selsoviet was established as part of early Soviet attempts to reorganize local administration and decentralize power. It became a standard unit of governance from the 1920s onward and functioned as a basic level of public administration for many decades, handling local affairs across the countryside.

Structure and functions typically included an elected council (the soviet) and an executive body headed by a chairman or head of the selsoviet. The unit administered a defined rural territory, maintained local infrastructure and public services, oversaw budgetary matters, and managed issues related to land use, housing, culture, and education within its jurisdiction. Decisions were made by the council and implemented by the executive office, within the bounds of higher-level law.

In contemporary practice, the term retains historical significance. In Russia and some other former Soviet states, many selsoviets have been replaced by modern municipal formations such as rural settlements or equivalent units within districts. In some areas, the term continues to be used in official language as a designation of a local self-government body or as a historical reference.