SOVETSK. DESCRIPTION.

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Introduction
Location
Historical Background
Population and Demographic Situation
Sovetsk Today
Local Government System
Education and Culture

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Location

Sovetsk is the city of oblast subordination, the second largest in Kaliningrad oblast. It is located on the border with Lithuania at the river Neman, 59 km away from the river's mouth, 123 km to the northeast from Kaliningrad.

In the north Sovetsk borders Lithuania, in the southeast Nemansky rayon of Kaliningrad oblast, in the northwest Slavsky rayon. Sovetsk is 40 km away from Krasnoznamensk, center of the third largest rayon of Kaliningrad oblast.

Sovetsk has a territory of 42 square km.

The city is a critical transportation hub of the region. It is situated on the major crossroads connecting Russia and Western Europe and has a railway, port and highway infrastructure.

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Historical Background

Established in 1552, the city (former Tilsit) used to be one of the largest in eastern Prussia, performing significant trade, cultural, administrative and military functions. The settlement Tilsit (located in the territory of modern city Sovetsk) was first mentioned in the chronicles in 1276. Historically, this territory had been occupied by the Prussians, nationality of the Baltic group.

At the beginning of the 13th century, the land was conquered by the Teutonic Knights. Later on, during 1230-1289, it became a full possession of the Teutonic Order and was invaded by the German colonists. By the end of 19th century Germans accounted for 70% of the total population. In early 20th century all national communities except for Old Believers, assimilate with Germans.

Tilsit had received a world recognition becoming the place where historical negotiations between Napoleon the First, Frederick Wilgielm and Alexander the First were conducted in 1807 and the Tilsit Peace treaty was signed there.

In the 19th century the history of the city was characterized by its rapid development: numerous civil, industrial, military and technical engineering projects, were constructed there, most of them survived but were rebuilt later.

From the foundation time and until now, due to its proximity to the border, Tilsit-Sovetsk has always been a place for concentration of troops and therefore there is a great number of quarters and other military constructions in the city.

At the end of the World War II the city suffered damage from the battle operations. Practically all buildings along the river Neman were destroyed. When the World War II was over, Tilsit being a part of former eastern Prussia joined Russia under the decision of Berlin (Potsdam) conference of 1945. In 1946 Tilsit was renamed into Sovetsk.

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Population and Demographic Situation

The city has a population of 43,7 thousand people. The population has undergone little changes during the last decade. If earlier its growth was caused by a mechanical increase (500 persons annually), recently such growth has stopped while the natural growth is characterized by negative parameters.

The city has a population of 43,7 thousand people, including 20,5 thousand men and 23,2 thousand women, among them:

33.9 thousand people are capable to work. The city is remote from so called "hot spots" and has one homogeneous population of Russians, which guarantees stable situation without national and ethnic conflicts.
Employed population is 14.7 thousand people, including 5.9 thousand people employed at the industry.
Ethnic composition in the region has been rather stable over the last ten years. Russians predominate (34 185), followed by

Employed population is 14.7 thousand people, including:

Pensioners amount to 13186 thousand people, children under the age of 15 -6897 people, children over the age of 15 and students of educational institutions - 1216 people. Unemployment (01.01.2000) - 288 persons, 1.5% out of the economically active population.

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Sovetsk Today

The city has a status of independent municipal institution.

At present the city has multifunctional economic base, developed social and cultural sphere (high educational institutions, hospitals, theatre, administrative institutions), frontier passage to one of the key economic partners - Lithuania - and is being a transport junction (railway station, river port, automobile and railway bridges across Neman). City institutions are attended not only by the residents of the city but also by people from nearby regions of Kaliningrad and Lithuania.

Sovetsk is a stunning combination of new and old architectural styles. Great efforts have been put to restore the old buildings. At the same time many new buildings like shops and cafes have decorated the downtown of Sovetsk, making the appearance of the old streets more modern and colorful.

Kaliningrad oblast has a status of the Special Economic Zone, the fact makes Sovetsk an attractive city for foreign investors. There are 13 foreign companies and 17 joint ventures in the city.

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Local Government

The city administration system comprises the following elements:

• City Board of deputies ;
• City administration;
• Mayor;
• Chairman of the City Board of deputies;
• Territorial and other government bodies acting in accordance with the Charter of municipal institution.

The local government system is based on three traditionally strong elements:
-         City council
-         City administration
-         Mayor

The Charter of the City defines the powers delegated to them by the city population.

Mayor is a supreme decision-maker in the local self-government system and is elected by the citizens every forth year. The Mayor has individual overall responsibility for performing functions of executive authority. He independently appoints city administration officials according to the administrative structure approved by the City Council. He also has the right to appoint/discharge directors of municipal enterprises and institutions. Within the limits of his authority defined by the Charter of the City, the Mayor gives orders and promulgates resolutions. The activities of the Mayor are accountable to the city population and City Council.

City Council is a representative body of local self-government. The City Council consists of 21 deputies elected by the population for the period of 4 years. The City Council is headed by a chairman, a full-time professional politician elected among the City Council deputies for the same period. The City Council passes joint resolutions on local issues.

City administration carries out assignments on behalf of the Mayor. The administration officials are appointed and discharged by the Mayor.

In order to meet the expectations of the population, municipal management has three priority sectors:

-         Social sphere;
-         Financial and economic issues;
-         Municipal economy.

Contact Information

Head of Sovetsk Svetlov Vjacheslav Nikolaevich 3, Tetralnaja 238750 Sovetsk, Kaliningrad oblast, Russia tel: (01161) 72477 fax: (01161) 72035 E-mail: admsov@baltnet.ru

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Education and Culture

Sovetsk plays an important social-cultural role of regional significance. In the city there are 9 secondary schools (5 144 persons), evening secondary school (153 persons), boarding school (260 persons), orphanage (31 persons), shelter for children, 13 kindergartens (1 206 persons) including 11 municipal (1066 persons), 2 vocational-training colleges (800 students), 2 professional lyceums (896 students), cinema college (647 students). In the city there are also branches of Saint-Petersburg University of Culture (120 students), Saint-Petersburg State University of Service and Economics (249 persons), Moscow New Law Institute (100 persons), North-West Correspondence Polytechnic Institute of Saint-Petersburg (100 persons).

The following healthcare institutions are situated in the city: city hospital#1 for 160 beds, city hospital #2 for 80 beds, city hospital#3 for 50 beds, children's hospital for 40 beds, TB-hospital for 80 beds, maternity hospital for 60 beds, dentistry, psychoneurological hospital for children for 75 beds. Besides, in the city there is a regional sanatorium.

As for the institutions of culture and art, they are the following: children's musical school for 640 students, children's art school for 200 persons, Leisure center "Parus", city libraries for youth and children of total area 2 120 m2 with 19 916 registered readers, Culture Palace (auditorium for 800 seats), House of Offices (auditorium for 400 seats), "Molodezhny" theater (300 seats), city history museum (area 475 m2), Kaliningrad regional college of culture and art -780 students, Creativity Center for children and youth (departments: technical, tourist, art, nature, applied).

The following institutions provide educational services:

1. Three state institutions of elementary professional education, including:

1) Lyceum #14 - trains specialists for light industry (clothing manufacture) and consumer services;
2) Lyceum #12 - rains qualified specialists for industry, trade, and catering;
3) College #1 - trains motor mechanics, electricians, metalworkers, turners, etc.

2. Two institutions of secondary vocational education, including:

1) Technical School of Television (with specialties: audiovisual equipment, economy, bookkeeping);
2) Oblast College of Culture and Arts.

3. Five branch institutes:

1) Saint Petersburg University of culture
2) Saint Petersburg State University of Economy and Service
3) Moscow Institute of Law
4) Northwestern Correspondence Polytechnical Institute
5) Saint Petersburg State University of Television.

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