Annotation

This paper examines the constitutional and legal evolution of rural and urban local self-government institutions in the Russian Federation. It argues that rural and urban local self-government share a common constitutional foundation, as they serve as means of realizing the population’s right to independently resolve issues of local significance. Organizational and legal characteristics are determined by differences in the socio-territorial structure, population density, nature of economic ties, infrastructure availability, and historical traditions of the respective territories. Particular attention is paid to the impact of the 2020 constitutional reform and Federal Law No. 33-FZ of March 20, 2025, “On the General Principles of Organizing Local Self-Government within a Unified System of Public Authority,” on the understanding of the place of local self-government within the system of public authority. The conclusion is drawn regarding the complementary nature of rural and urban forms of local self-government and the need for their further study within the framework of the concept of rural-urban local self-government.