Selsoviet

A selsoviet (Russian: сельсовет, IPA: [sʲɪlʲsɐˈvʲet]), also spelled sel'sovet, literally "rural soviet" or "village soviet", was a local administrative unit in rural areas of the Soviet Union. It was the primary level of government administration, corresponding roughly to a village council or rural municipality.

Specifically, a selsoviet was a council (soviet) administering one or more rural localities (villages, hamlets, settlements, etc.). It was the lowest tier of government directly elected by the population. Selsoviets were subordinate to the raion (district) level of administration.

The primary function of the selsoviet was to implement the policies and decisions of higher levels of government, manage local affairs such as land use and public services, collect taxes, and maintain order within its jurisdiction. The chairman of the selsoviet, usually elected by the council members, was the most important official in the area.

The term "selsoviet" reflects the soviet system of government, which emphasized local councils as instruments of popular power. While the powers of the selsoviet were limited and subject to central control, it played a significant role in the everyday lives of rural Soviet citizens.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, many former selsoviets were reorganized into local self-government bodies within the newly independent states, often with altered names and functions reflecting new political realities. In some areas, however, the term may persist or have historical relevance.