Urban agglomerations in the municipal-territorial organization: what should be the legal regulation?

Тhe article deals with the issue of attempts to regulate the status of urban agglomerations in the municipal-territorial organization. Regional practice of creation and activity of urban agglomerations including classification of subjects of the Russian Federation which have chosen different approaches in regulation and understanding of this political and territorial phenomenon is analyzed. Separately, the question of the reasons for the creation of urban agglomerations and the purpose of their existence is considered. The problems of the legal status of agglomerations and their management, as well as prospects for legislative regulation of their status are noted.