krais

Krai is a type of federal subject of the Russian Federation. Like oblasts, krais are administrative regions with their own regional government structures and the status of being one of the country’s equal subjects of the federation.

Etymology and history: The term krai derives from the Russian word meaning “edge” or “frontier.” Historically, krais were often frontier or border regions and later were sometimes created by merging or upgrading territories. In the modern Russian federation, krais are one of several categories of federal subjects and do not differ in legal status from oblasts, although their origins may reflect historical or geographic considerations.

Governance and administration: Each krai has a regional charter or constitution, a legislative body (often a regional Duma), and an executive head (usually called a governor or similar title) with an appointed or elected government. They coordinate with the federal government on matters of regional policy, economy, infrastructure, and social services, while retaining substantial local authority within the framework of federal law.

Examples: Notable krais include Altai Krai, Kamchatka Krai, Krasnodar Krai, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Primorsky Krai, Stavropol Krai, Perm Krai, and Zabaykalsky Krai (formed in 2018 from Chita Oblast and Agin-Buryat Autonomous Okrug).

See also: The krai is distinct from other types of federal subjects such as oblasts, republics, and autonomous okrugs, but all operate within the same constitutional framework of the Russian Federation.