Demarcation of the authority between the federal centre and constituent entities of the Russian Federation in regulation of territorial organization of local authorities

According to Art. 11 of the Federal Law "On the General Principles of the Organization of Local Self-Government in the Russian Federation" of 2003, the boundaries of municipalities are established and modified in accordance with well-defined and exhaustively defined requirements. Thus, it is indicated that the entire territory of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation, with the exception of areas with low population density, is demarcated between settlements (rural and urban). In turn, the territory of the settlement consists of the historically established lands of settlements, adjacent common lands, territories of traditional nature use of the population of the respective settlement, recreational lands, lands for the development of the settlement. The composition of the territory of the settlement includes land, regardless of ownership and purpose. Within the boundaries of an urban settlement there may be one city or one settlement with an adjacent territory, as well as rural settlements that are not municipal entities.