Kholmsk

[edit] Within the framework of administrative divisions, Kholmsk serves as the administrative center of Kholmsky District and is subordinated to it. As a municipal division, the town of Kholmsk and twenty-three rural localities of Kholmsky District are incorporated as Kholmsky Urban Okrug. Authorities[edit] Administration of Kholmsky urban district Kholm City Court Local self-government in Kholmsk, as in other municipalities, is built on the principles of respect for the rights and freedoms of man and citizen, state guarantees of the rule of law, transparency, independence in resolving issues of local importance, election of bodies and officials, and their responsibility to the city population and state authorities in terms of the execution of certain state powers delegated to local self-government. The structure of municipal self-government bodies includes: The mayor of the city and urban district, an elected senior official; The city Assembly of Deputies, a representative body; The administration of the municipality, the executive body. The city assembly is elected by the district's population once every four years. The meeting is headed by a chairman elected at the first meeting. The current fourth convocation of the Assembly consists of 20 deputies: 9 from United Russia, 9 from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, and 2 from the Liberal Democratic Party. The head of the administration is appointed under a contract concluded based on the results of a competition to fill the position for the term of office of the Assembly. Law enforcement functions are carried out by the Department of Internal Affairs, the city court, and the city prosecutor's office. There are also federal, regional, and municipal management and control structures in the city: migration service, tax service, bailiff service, FSB department, fisheries inspection (Rosselkhoznadzor), territorial election commission, registry office, education department, employment center, social security department, military registration and enlistment office, pension fund, traffic police, private fire protection. The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, customs, and a border post are located here. Mayors of the city of Kholmsk and the Kholmsk urban district: 1991-1994 - Nikolai Petrovich Dolgikh 1994-1997 - Arkady Vyacheslavovich Kukin 1997-2001 - Nikolai Petrovich Dolgikh 2001-2005 — Alexander Petrovich Gusto 2005-2007 — Alexey Veniaminovich Vybornov 2007-2011 — Alexander Petrovich Gusto 2011-2015 — Oleg Petrovich Nazarenko 2015-2018 — Andrey Modestovich Sukhomesov c 20.12.2018 — Alexey Anatolyevich Letechin c 2019 — Dmitry Henrikhovich Lyubchinov

[edit] Kholmsk is an important seaport for Sakhalin Island. Since 1973, it has been the Sakhalin terminal of the Vanino-Kholmsk train ferry to the port of Vanino on the Russian mainland, connecting the mainline rail network with that of the island. Until 2019, Sakhalin railways continued to use the Japanese gauge of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in), which required railcars coming from the Russian mainland to have their bogies changed in Kholmsk. The island's narrow gauge railway network underwent conversion to Russian broad gauge in August 2019. It is the largest transport hub on Sakhalin, which includes an ice-free seaport with 2 terminals, 3 railway stations and a knot of highways. Kholmsk is connected with Vanino port by the Kholmsk—Vanino sea railway passenger-and-freight ferry. From the town, the federal highway R495 Kholmsk—Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk begins. Kholmsk is a large economic, industrial and cultural center of the Sakhalin Oblast, a center of sea fishery and ship repair.

[edit] Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Russia Kholmsk is twinned with: Ansan, South Korea Otaru, Japan Kushiro, Japan (since 1975)