ABSTRACT

The smaller settlements are characterised by collective agricultural enterprises with their bams and places where small-scale food processing takes place. The smaller settlements usually look abandoned and public services are scarce. Asphalt roads are rare. Living conditions in the countryside are very poor as they have little access to services that are common for towns: hospitals, good schools, cultural facilities, etc. There are few shops - many settlements do not have shops at all. There are no recreational facilities in small settlements and there are no pubs although alcoholism is epidemic. People in small settlements regularly die from diseases that could be easily treated, due to the absence o f adequate medical care. Travelling by train and bus to towns has become much more expensive, as public transport has deteriorated enormously.