Russia divided into administrative units

MOSCOW, MAY 14. In what is seen as an attempt to consolidate his position, the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, has signed a decree dividing the country into seven Federal Districts, barely a week after he was sworn in.

The districts will be headed by Presidential Representatives, who will help the President in exercising his constitutional powers and in monitoring the implementation of his domestic and foreign policies and Federal laws by the regional authorities, according to the decree signed yesterday.

The decree would facilitate the Government in firmly administering, the at times unruly Federation of 89 ethnic regions, many of which like Chechnya, have been ignoring Federal laws and Constitution. The new decree comes two days after Mr. Putin suspended policies passed by the Ingush, Bashkirian and Amur regional authorities, saying they contradicted Federal laws.

But, according to figures cited by the privately-owned NTV, more than half of Russia's regions have local laws that contradict the Federal structure.

- PTI

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Section  : International
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