In the USSR: (1) A basic administrative and territorial division in rural areas that is part of a Union republic, autonomous republic, krai, oblast, autonomous oblast, or autonomous okrug. The establishment of a raion is within the jurisdiction of the highest governmental bodies of the Union republics. The raions of most Union republics and all autonomous republics are listed in their constitutions. A rural raion includes worker, health-resort, and dacha settlements, rural Soviets, and cities under the jurisdiction of raions.

(2) An administrative and territorial unit in cities with populations of more than 100,000. The representative body of state authority in the raion is the raion soviet of people’s deputies.