Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan Concerning the administrative and territorial system of the Republic of Kazakhstan, № 2572-XII of 8 December, 1993

Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan Concerning the administrative and
territorial system of the Republic of Kazakhstan, № 2572-XII of
8 December, 1993
Section 1. General Provisions

Article 1. The System of Administrative and Territorial Structure of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The system of administrative and territorial structure of the Republic of Kazakhstan comprises the following administrative and territorial units: aul (village), settlement, aul (village) district, district in a town, town, district, province.

Article 2. Categories of the Administrative and Territorial Units

In order to perform the state administration on the principles of optimum combination of national and local interests, the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall be subdivided into two fundamental categories - regions and populated areas.

Region - is a part of the territory of the republic which comprises several populated areas, it is formed and managed in the interests of the republic.

A province, district and aul (village) district as the fundamental elements of the republic's administrative and territorial structure shall be recognised as regions.

Populated area - is a part of jointly populated territory of the republic which formed as a result of economic and other social activities of citizens with the population not less than 50 people, accounted for and registered in accordance with the procedure established by law and managed by local representative and executive bodies.

Populated areas which are on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall be subdivided into municipal populated areas and rural populated areas.

The municipal populated areas shall comprise the cities of republic's, province and district significance as well as settlements; rural - all the rest of populated areas irrespective of their administrative subordination.

Article 3. Categories of Towns and Other Populated Areas

Towns and other populated areas shall be subdivided as follows:

1) cities of national significance which may comprise populated areas which have special national significance or which have the population as a rule in excess of one million people;

2) cities of province significance which may comprise populated areas which are large economic and cultural centres which have developed production and social infrastructure and population in excess of 50 thousand people;

3) towns of district significance which may comprise populated areas in the territory of which there are industrial enterprises, utility economy, state owned housing stock, developed network of educational and cultural establishments, medical and commercial facilities with the number of population not less than 10 thousand people of which workers and employees as well as their family members constitute more than two thirds of the total population;