Astrakhan Oblast

Astrakhan's southern border is the Caspian Sea, eastern is Kazakhstan (Atyrau Region and West Kazakhstan Region), northern is Volgograd Oblast, and western is Kalmykia.

It is within the Russian Southern Federal District.

File:Narimanovsky District, Astrakhan Oblast, Russia - panoramio (3).jpg|Semi-desert in Narimanovsky District

File:Богдо4.jpg|Bogdo-Baskunchak Nature Reserve

File:Astrakhan Russia-v2-p168.jpg]]

Since the Middle Ages, the territory has been ruled by Khazars, Cumania, the Mongol-Tatar Golden Horde, the Tatar Astrakhan Khanate, and Russia.

Astrakhan region is the homeland of the Buzhans, one of several Slavic tribes from which modern Russians evolved;{{Cite web |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13231c.htm|title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Russia |website=www.newadvent.org |access-date=2019-03-21}} they lived in Southern Russia and inhabited the area around the Buzan river.

In the 16th century, Indians began moving to the region, bringing Indian influence.[http://www.indostan.ru/indiya/79_1968_0.html Индийское подворье в Астрахани] www.indostan.ru{{Cite web |website=openthemagazine.com |date=March 16, 2020 |title=Astrakhan's India Connection |url=https://openthemagazine.com/columns/astrakhans-india-connection/}}

From August - December 1942, the German invaders reached the border of Astrakhansky Oblast, crossing into the region: the Abwehr from 1942 to 1943, Nazi Army stragglers 1941–44.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} Buzan oblast was created on 27 December 1943, on parts of the territories of the abolished Kalmyk ASSR and Astrakhan Okrug of Stalingrad Oblast.

{{see also| List of nuclear weapons tests of the Soviet Union}}

From 8 October 1980 to 27 October 1984, and under the leadership of Nikolai Baibakov,{{efn|In 1963, with support from individuals in the Krasnodarnefteproekt, Nikolai Konstantinovich Baibakov received the Lenin Prize in technology for his discovery and development of gas-condensate fields. Later, as Chairman of Gosplan from October 2, 1965, to October 14, 1985, he actively pursued the development of gas condensate fields across the Soviet Union.}} the USSR held fifteen deep underground nuclear tests for Nuclear Explosions for the National Economy at the site Vega in the Ryn Desert in the east of the oblast less than 50 km from downtown Astrakhan to create reservoirs for natural gas storage.{{cite web | editor-last = Mikhaylov | editor-first = Victor H. | editor-link = Viktor Mikhaylov (academic) | script-title = ru:Ядерные испытания в СССР | trans-title = Nuclear tests in the USSR | language = ru | url = https://atomas.ru/isp2/4_5.htm | work = Ministry of Atomic Energy and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation | access-date = October 5, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180327063730/http://atomas.ru/isp2/4_5.htm | archive-date = March 27, 2018 | url-status = dead }}{{cite book |last=Nordyke|first=M. D. |title=The Soviet Program for Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Explosions |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |date=September 1, 2000 |access-date=October 5, 2017 |pages=36–41 |chapter=Underground Cavities for Storage of Gas Condensate |id=Report no.: UCRL-ID-124410 Rev 2 |url=https://e-reports-ext.llnl.gov/pdf/238468.pdf|doi=10.2172/793554|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223024850/http://e-reports-ext.llnl.gov/pdf/238468.pdf |archive-date=December 23, 2016 |url-status=dead}} U. S. Department of Energy contract no.: W-7405-Eng48. Because of the detonation depth (975 to 1,100 meters) and relatively low yield (3.2 to 13.5 kilotons), no radiation was released to the environment. These blasts had lower yields than the Project Sapphire blasts, which were 40 km south-southwest of Orenburg, to reduce any possible seismic destruction to nearby towns in the Volga delta including Astrakhan.{{cite book | last = Nordyke | first = Milo D. | title = The Soviet Program for Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Explosions | url = https://www.iaea.org/inis/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/28/038/28038223.pdf |via=IAEA | pages = 36–9 | date = July 24, 1996 | access-date = October 5, 2017}} At that time, the natural gas fields near Astrakhan, which are at a depth of 3900 to 4,100 meters, could contain as much as 6 trillion cubic meters, which is an amount similar to Urengoy. In 2017, the Astrakhanskoye field, which is an area of 100 km by 40 km in the middle of the Astrakhan arch and is 60 km northeast of Astrakhan, is the ninth largest in Russia and the largest in European Russia with an estimated gas in place of {{convert|102|e12cuft|abbr=off}}. The deposit is operated by Gazprom Dobycha Astrakhan which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gazprom.{{cite web | title = Gazprom Dobycha Astrakhan | url = https://www.gazprom.com/about/subsidiaries/list-items/gazprom-dobycha-astrakhan/ | work = Gazprom | access-date = October 5, 2017}} The field produces large amounts of sulfur, too.{{cite journal | last = Borg | first = I.Y. | title = Underground nuclear explosions at Astrakhan, USSR | location = Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA) | url = https://inis.iaea.org/search/search.aspx?orig_q=RN:14732897 | journal = IAEA | date = 1982 | access-date = October 5, 2017}}{{cite web | title = USSR: Astrakhn Natural Gas Project | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000476139.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170123020043/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000476139.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 23, 2017 | work = CIA | date = December 3, 1982 | access-date = October 5, 2017}}{{cite web | last1 = Kondratyev | first1 = А.Н. | last2 = Molodih | first2 = G.H. | last3 = Razmishlyaev | first3 = A.A. | script-title=ru:Особенности формирования Астраханского газоконденсатного месторождения | trans-title = Features of the Astrakhan gas condensate field | language = ru | url = http://www.geolib.ru/OilGasGeo/1982/09/Stat/stat11.html |website=www.geolib.r | date = January 13, 1982 | access-date = October 5, 2017}}{{cite news | script-title=ru:Астраханская область. Объект "Вега" готовят к консервации. | trans-title = Astrakhan Region: The site "Vega" is being prepared for conservation | language = ru | url = http://regions.ru/news/1317046/ | work = regions.ru | date = November 27, 2003 | access-date = October 5, 2017}}{{cite web | last = Yablokov | first = Alexei Vladimirovich | author-link = Alexei Yablokov | script-title=ru:Миф о безопасности и эффективности мирных подземных ядерных взрывов | trans-title = The Myth of the Safety and Efficiency of Peaceful Underground Nuclear Explosions | language = ru | url = http://rus-green.ru/news/13286 | work = Yabloko | access-date = October 5, 2017}}

On 30 October 1997, Astrakhan, alongside Kirov, Murmansk, Ulyanovsk, and Yaroslavl signed a power-sharing agreement with the government of Russia, granting it autonomy.{{Cite web |url=https://jamestown.org/program/yeltsin-signs-power-sharing-agreements-with-five-more-russian-regions/ |title=Yeltsin Signs Power-Sharing Agreements With Five More Russian Regions|date=1997-11-03 |website=Jamestown |language=en-US |access-date=2019-05-02}} The agreement would be abolished on 21 December 2001.{{Cite journal |last=Chuman|first=Mizuki |title=The Rise and Fall of Power-Sharing Treaties Between Center and Regions in Post-Soviet Russia |url=http://demokratizatsiya.pub/archives/19_2_L7H017206G216817.pdf |journal=Demokratizatsiya |pages=146 |access-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308002915/http://demokratizatsiya.pub/archives/19_2_L7H017206G216817.pdf |archive-date=March 8, 2019 |url-status=dead}}

File:Здание городских учреждений 08.JPG]]

During the Soviet period, the high authority in the oblast was shared between three persons: The first secretary of the Astrakhan CPSU Committee (who in reality had the biggest authority), the chairman of the oblast Soviet (legislative power), and the Chairman of the oblast Executive Committee (executive power). Since 1991, CPSU lost all the power, and the head of the Oblast administration, and eventually the governor was appointed/elected alongside elected regional parliament.

The Charter of Astrakhan Oblast is the fundamental law of the region. The Legislative Assembly of Astrakhan Oblast is the province's standing legislative (representative) body. The Legislative Assembly exercises its authority by passing laws, resolutions, and other legal acts and by supervising the implementation and observance of the laws and other legal acts passed by it. The highest executive body is the Oblast Administration, which includes territorial executive bodies such as district administrations, committees, and commissions that facilitate development and run the day to day matters of the province. The Oblast administration supports the activities of the Governor who is the highest official and acts as guarantor of the observance of the oblast Charter in accordance with the Constitution of Russia.

{{main|Duma of Astrakhan Oblast}}

The representative authority of the Astrakhan Oblast is the Duma of Astrakhan Oblast. Between 1994–2001, it was called the Astrakhan Regional Representative Assembly.

The Duma of Astrakhan Oblast has the following structure:

• Chairman of the Duma of Astrakhan Oblast;
• First Deputy Chairman of the Duma of Astrakhan Oblast;
• Deputy Chairman of the Duma of Astrakhan Oblast;
• Office of the Duma of Astrakhan Oblast;
• Committees and political factions.

Since 2006, the chairman of the regional legislative body has been the head of the regional branch of the United Russia party, Alexander Klykanov, whose candidacy was considered in 2009 for the post of governor of the Oblast.{{cite web |url=https://www.astrobl.ru/legislative/ |title=Органы законодательной власти |trans-title=Legislature |website=www.astrobl.ru |access-date=2017-11-27 |archive-date=2017-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712050109/https://www.astrobl.ru/legislative |url-status=live}} In 2016, Igor Martynov was elected Chairman of the Duma of Astrakhan Oblast of the sixth convocation.{{cite web |url=https://astroblduma.ru/vm/strukt_sost_dum/rukovodstvo/predsedat/ |title=Председатель Думы Астраханской области |website=astroblduma.ru |trans-title=Chairman of the Duma of Astrakhan Oblast |access-date=2020-06-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126224921/https://www.astroblduma.ru/vm/strukt_sost_dum/rukovodstvo/predsedat |archive-date=2020-01-26 |url-status=dead}}

{{main|Governor of Astrakhan Oblast}}

The governor is the highest official of the Astrakhan Oblast and heads the executive branch.{{cite web |url=https://www.astrobl.ru/executive/ |title=Органы исполнительной власти |trans-title=Executive agencies |publisher=www.astrobl.ru |access-date=2018-04-02 |archive-date=2018-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028031154/https://www.astrobl.ru/executive |url-status=live}}

Governors of Astrakhan Oblast:

• Anatoly Guzhvin — 1991–2004;
• Alexander Zhilkin — 2004–2018;
• Sergey Morozov — acting, 26 September 2018 — 5 June 2019;
• Igor Babushkin — 5 June 2019 — present.

From 1991 to 2004, Anatoly Guzhvin, who won elections in 1996 and 2000, was the governor of the Oblast. After Guzhvin's death in August 2004, the early elections of the head of the Astrakhan Oblast on 5 December 2004 was won by the acting head of the region Alexander Zhilkin, enjoying the support of United Russia. The Governor supervises the work of the executive authorities of the region and the Government of the Astrakhan Oblast. From 2004 to 2017, Konstantin Markelov was the Chairman of the Government of the Astrakhan Oblast. Since 2017, Rasul Sultanov has been the Chairman of the Government of the Astrakhan Oblast.{{cite web |url=http://docs.cntd.ru/document/802024089/ |title=О системе исполнительных органов государственной власти Астраханской области (с изменениями на: 20.10.2016), Закон Астраханской области от 02 февраля 2005 года №2/2005-ОЗ |trans-title=On the system of executive bodies of state power of the Astrakhan Oblast (as amended on: 10/20/2016), Law of the Astrakhan Oblast dated 2 February 2005 No. 2 / 2005-OZ |publisher=docs.cntd.ru |access-date=2018-04-02 |archive-date=2018-04-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401003433/http://docs.cntd.ru/document/802024089 |url-status=live}}

{{Main|Administrative divisions of Astrakhan Oblast}}

{{clear}}

File:Life expectancy in Russian subject -Astrakhan Oblast.png{{ru-census|p2021=960,142|p2010=1,010,073|p2002=1,005,276|p1989=998,114}}

Vital statistics for 2024:{{Cite web |date=21 February 2025 |title=Естественное движение населения в разрезе субъектов российской федерации за декабрь 2024 года |url=https://rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/EDN_12-2024.htm |url-status=live |access-date=25 February 2025 |website=Rosstat}}

• Births: 9,199 (9.7 per 1,000)
• Deaths: 11,485 (12.1 per 1,000)

Total fertility rate (2024):{{Cite web |date=2025-02-25 |title=Рейтинг рождаемости в регионах: кто в лидерах, а кто в аутсайдерах {{!}} Москва |url=https://fedpress.ru/article/3365231 |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=ФедералПресс |language=ru-RU}}

1.62 children per woman

Life expectancy (2021):{{cite web |url=https://rosstat.gov.ru/folder/210/document/13207 |title=Демографический ежегодник России |publisher=Federal State Statistics Service of Russia (Rosstat) |access-date=2022-06-01 |language=ru |trans-title=The Demographic Yearbook of Russia}}

Total — 69.90 years (male — 65.86, female — 73.87)

{{Largest cities

| country = Astrakhan Oblast

| stat_ref = 2010 Russian Census

| list_by_pop =

| div_name =

| div_link = Administrative divisions of Astrakhan Oblast{{!}}Administrative Division

| city_1 = Astrakhan

| div_1 = Astrakhan{{!}}City of oblast significance of Astrakhan

| pop_1 = 520,339

| img_1 = Astrakhan - Russia.jpg

| city_2 = Akhtubinsk

| div_2 = Akhtubinsky District

| pop_2 = 41,853

| img_2 = ПаркАхтубинск.jpg

| city_3 = Znamensk, Astrakhan Oblast{{!}}Znamensk

| div_3 = Znamensk, Astrakhan Oblast{{!}}Closed administrative-territorial formation of Znamensk

| pop_3 = 29,401

| img_3 = Дом_Офицеров_(Знаменск,_Астрахань).jpg

| city_4 = Kharabali

| div_4 = Kharabalinsky District

| pop_4 = 18,117

| img_4 = Храм_Вознесение_Господне_в_городе_Харабали.jpg

| city_5 = Kamyzyak

| div_5 = Kamyzyaksky District

| pop_5 = 16,314

| city_6 = Krasny Yar, Astrakhan Oblast{{!}}Krasny Yar

| div_6 = Krasnoyarsky District, Astrakhan Oblast{{!}}Krasnoyarsky District

| pop_6 = 11,824

| city_7 = Narimanov, Astrakhan Oblast{{!}}Narimanov

| div_7 = Narimanovsky District

| pop_7 = 11,521

| city_8 = Ikryanoye

| div_8 = Ikryaninsky District

| pop_8 = 10,036

| city_9 = Volodarsky, Astrakhan Oblast{{!}}Volodarsky

| div_9 = Volodarsky District, Astrakhan Oblast{{!}}Volodarsky District

| pop_9 = 10,005

| city_10 = Liman, Astrakhan Oblast{{!}}Liman

| div_10 = Limansky District

| pop_10 = 9,024

}}{{Historical populations|1897|1003542|1926|510386|7=1959|8=701974|9=1970|10=867483|11=1979|12=915548|13=1989|14=998114|15=2002|16=1005276|17=2010|18=1010073|19=2021|20=960142|type=|footnote=Source: Census data}}

According to the 2021 Census, the ethnic composition was:{{cite web |title=Национальный состав населения |url=https://rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/Tom5_tab1_VPN-2020.xlsx |publisher=Federal State Statistics Service |access-date=30 December 2022}}

(shown are the ethnic groups with a population of more than 5,000 people)

• 144,459 people were registered from administrative databases, and could not declare an ethnicity. It is estimated that the proportion of ethnicities in this group is the same as that of the declared group.{{Cite web |url=http://www.perepis-2010.ru/news/detail.php?ID=6936 |title=Впн-2010 |access-date=December 22, 2011 |archive-date=December 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225111852/http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/new_site/perepis2010/croc/perepis_itogi1612.htm |url-status=dead }}

The local group of Russian varieties is known as Astrakhan Russian and refers to several dialects spoken in and around the Astrakhan Oblast.

{{Bar box

|title=Religion in Astrakhan Oblast as of 2012 (Sreda Arena Atlas)[http://sreda.org/en/arena "Arena: Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia"]. Sreda, 2012.[http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg 2012 Arena Atlas Religion Maps]. "Ogonek", № 34 (5243), 27/08/2012. Retrieved 21/04/2017. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170421154615/http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg Archived].

|float=right

|bars=

{{Bar percent|Russian Orthodoxy|DarkOrchid|46}}

{{Bar percent|Other Orthodox|MediumOrchid|4.3}}

{{Bar percent|Other Christians|DeepSkyBlue|2.1}}

{{Bar percent|Islam|Green|14.6}}

{{Bar percent|Rodnovery and other native faiths|Red|1.7}}

{{Bar percent|Spiritual but not religious|DarkSlateGray|16.5}}

{{Bar percent|Atheism and irreligion|Black|6.2}}

{{Bar percent|Other and undeclared|Gray|8.6}}

}}

According to a 2012 survey which interviewed 56,900 people 46% of the population of Astrakhan Oblast adheres to the Russian Orthodox Church, 4% are Orthodox Christian believers who do not belong to any church or are members of other (non-Russian) Orthodox churches, 2% are unaffiliated generic Christians, 14% are Muslims, and 2% of the population adheres to the Slavic native faith (Rodnovery) or other folk religions of the region. In addition, 16% of the population declares to be spiritual but not religious, 6% is atheist, and 10% follows other religions or did not give an answer to the question.

Smaller religious communities not represented in the poll cited above but present in the region include Hindus, Jews and Buddhists, each having one temple in Astrakhan Oblast.

{{clear}}

• Astrakhan Khanate
• Music of Astrakhan
• Elections in Astrakhan Oblast
• List of Chairmen of the Astrakhan Oblast Duma
• Hinduism in Russia

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{RussiaBasicLawRef|ast}}
• {{Cite Russian law

|ru_entity=Президиум Верховного Совета СССР

|ru_type=Указ

|ru_date=27 декабря 1943 г.

|ru_title=О ликвидации Калмыцкой АССР и образовании Астраханской области в составе РСФСР

|ru_url=

|en_entity=Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR

|en_type=Decree

|en_date=December 27, 1943

|en_title=On Abolishing the Kalmyk ASSR and Establishing Astrakhan Oblast Within the RSFSR

|en_url=

}}

{{Commons category|Astrakhan Oblast}}

• {{in lang|ru}} [http://www.astrobl.ru/ Official website of Astrakhan Oblast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625035524/http://www.astrobl.ru/ |date=June 25, 2014 }}
• {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Astrakhan (government)|short=x|display=Astrakhan, a government of S.E. Russia|volume= 2|page= 794}}

{{Subdivisions of Russia}}

{{Astrakhan Oblast}}

{{Geographic location

|Center={{flag|Astrakhan Oblast}}

|North={{flag|Volgograd Oblast}}

|Northeast=

|East = Atyrau and West Kazakhstan Provinces, {{flag|Kazakhstan}}

|Southeast = Mangystau Region, {{flag|Kazakhstan}}

|South = Caspian Sea
{{flag|Dagestan}}
Baku, Khachmaz, Khizi, Shabran, Siazan and Sumqayit, {{flag|Azerbaijan}}

|Southwest =

|West = {{flag|Kalmykia}}

|Northwest = {{flag|Volgograd Oblast}}

}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2014}}

Category:Southern Federal District

Category:States and territories established in 1943