abstract:An autonomous republic is a type of administrative division similar to a province or state. A significant number of autonomous republics can be found within the successor states of the Soviet Union, but the majority are located within Russia.
SinceChina's province of Hainanand the AutonomousRepublic of Crimeaforgedfriendly ties in 1996, their exchanges have been dynamicwith cooperationgrowing continuously.
Rakhimov had led the autonomous Muslim republic for the past 16 years and, along with longtime Tatar President Mintimer Shaimiyev who resigned in April, was one of the last regional leaders left in Russia appointed by former President Boris Yeltsin.