Law No. 549 “On self-government bodies of rural settlements and villages.”

This Law regulates public relations regarding the organization, powers and activities of self-government bodies of rural settlements and villages, and determines their legal, economic and financial grounds. Self-government of rural settlements and villages shall be intended the initiative of the population of rural settlements and villages, directly or through self-government bodies of rural settlements and villages under their own responsibility in order to resolve social, economic and cultural issues of local importance, taking into account general social interests, national traditions and local specifics. The activities of self-government bodies of rural settlements and villages are based on the following principles: (a) legality and social justice; (b) protection of human and civil rights and freedoms; (c) democracy, openness and consideration of the public opinion; (d) independence, self-government and responsibility for solving local problems; (e) reporting to the population; (f) participation of citizens in local government; (g) coordination of local and national interests; and (h) collegiality of local self-government. Local self-government in the field of social protection, provision of public services and utilities, and environmental protection exercises the following powers: (a) participation in the development and implementation of regional programs to promote employment and take measures to regulate migration processes; (b) control over the regulation of traditions, celebrations and rituals; (c) taking measures to improve the living conditions of the population, health protection and environmental protection; (d) resolving issues of local importance (maintenance and improvement of roads, streets, squares, cultural institutions, water supplies, local markets, as well as maintaining cemeteries and ensuring the cleanliness of the area from garbage) and approving rules for their implementation; (e) registration of low-income families and organization of their social protection; and (f) ensuring the necessary measures to protect agricultural land, prevent livestock diseases, protect forests and shrubs. This Law contains 5 Chapters divided into 47 Articles. Chapter 1 lays down general provisions. Chapter 2 establishes organization, powers and functioning of local self-government bodies of rural settlements and villages. Chapter 3 establishes economic and financial grounds for the functioning of local self-government bodies of rural settlements and villages. Chapter 4 establishes the procedure for the election of the deputies of local self-government bodies. Chapter 5 lays down final and transitional provisions.