Transformation of the selsoviet into the village akimat: a retrospective analysis

Abstract

In recent years, important reforms have been adopted aimed at developing the management system in cities of local significance, villages, urban-type settlements, rural districts, which are the lowest local government in the hierarchy of power in the regional administrative-territorial units of Kazakhstan. In particular, a fourth-level budget was introduced and direct elections of akims towns, cities of audan significance, villages and rural districts were held. Within the framework of these reforms, it is relevant to examine the history of the formation of the institute of rural akim and its staff in 1991-1995 in the context of large-scale legal, political, administrative and structural reforms in the country. The article discusses the transformation of selsoviet into village akimats after Kazakhstan’s independence. Examining academic literature, media publications and archival documents, authors reported creation of local government at the level of cities of local significance, villages, urban-type settlements, rural districts. A retrospective analysis revealed systemic problems inherent since the establishment of the institute of rural akim, which helps to assess its gradual evolution.