Samorząd terytorialny w Federacji Rosyjskiej

The paper is a contribution to the in-depth research on the Russian local selfgovernment. The Author describes the process of formation and constitutional position of local self-government in the Russian Federation. He emphasizes that the process, at its initial stage at present, is related to the ongoing administrative reforms of the country and the creation of a single and effectively enforced nationwide legal area. He indicates the dilemmas both in the area of the material basis of existence of local self-government and its competences. The Author determines stages of self-government formation. Basing on normative solutions, he presents tasks of the Russian local self-government, its structure and authorities. He pays particular attention to the forms of citizens' direct participation in the management of local affairs.