autonomous oblast

== English == === Pronunciation === Hyphenation: au‧to‧no‧mous‧ob‧last === Noun === autonomous oblast (plural autonomous oblasts or autonomous oblasti) One of the administrative divisions of the former Soviet Union created for certain “smaller” nations and characterized by following features: they were given an autonomy within a union republic or, in the RSFSR, within a krai; had a status lower than an autonomous republic; had a different titular nation from that of their union republic/krai. Abbreviated as AO. 1989, Daily report: Soviet Union, Issues 181-186, p. 75 Unlike the Armenians in the NKAO they are deprived even of those opportunities represented by autonomous oblast status. 1992, Draft Constitution of the Russian Federation, Article 81 The autonomous oblast has the rights and bears the obligations of a kray and oblast. The legal status of the autonomous oblast is determined by federal law enacted by the Russian Federation Supreme Soviet in accordance with a representation of the autonomous oblast. ==== Usage notes ==== Currently there is only one autonomous oblast surviving in Russia, the Jewish Autonomous Oblast. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== autonomous republic autonomous okrug ==== Further reading ==== autonomous oblast on Wikipedia.Wikipedia