Moscow’s territorial divisions are "an interrelated system of territorial entities created within the city’s boundaries. Moscow’s territorial entities are districts (rayons) and administrative communities (okrugs), whose names and boundaries are secured in Moscow’s city government regulations." Meanwhile, boroughs’ boundaries cannot cross those of the districts comprising those communities.
Administrative communities (okrug) are headed by prefects, who are appointed by the mayor to be in charge of the local borough governments. District councils (upravas) are territorial bodies of executive authority of the capital, reporting to the Moscow City Government.
Powers are distributed as follows: the Prefecture is assigned controlling, coordinating, and executive-distribution functions in an administrative community, while the Uprava receives the same functions in a district. The prefect of the corresponding administrative community of Moscow oversees, coordinates and controls the activities of the district Uprava.
The formation of the current structure of the capital’s executive branch was completed in 2003:
Moscow City Government’s Executive Office
Moscow Departments (26)
Moscow Committees (13)
Moscow Chief Directorates and Directorates (6)
Moscow Inspectorates (4)
Moscow Administrative Community (Okrug) Prefectures (10)
Moscow District Upravas (123)
The Russian capital’s specific town-planning development began to show as early as the 12th century, when the city was founded. The central part of Moscow grew by consolidating with suburbs in line with the medieval principles of urban development, when strong fortress walls would gradually gird along the circle streets of adjacent new settlements. The first circular defence walls set the trajectory of Moscow’s rings, laying the groundwork for future town- planning of the Russian capital.
The following fortifications served as the city’s circular defence boundaries at some point in history: the Kremlin walls, Zemlyanoi Gorod (earthwork town), the Kamer-Kollezhsky Rampart, the Garden Ring, and the small railway ring. The Moscow Automobile Ring Road (MKAD) has been Moscow’s boundary since 1960. Also in the form of a circle are the main Moscow subway line, the Ring Line, and the so-called Third Automobile Ring, which was completed in 2005. Hence, the characteristic radial-circle planning continues to define Moscow’s further development. However, contemporary Moscow has also engulfed a number of territories outside the MKAD, including the town Zelenograd.
