This chapter presents all basic political, economic, and demographic data on a territorial unit of the Russian Federation, Chita Oblast. The territory that makes up today’s Chita Oblast was first explored by Cossacks led by Petr Beketov in 1653. People began to move into and develop the area in order to strengthen Russia’s border with China and Mongolia, extract mineral resources, and build the Trans-Siberian railroad. Geniatulin’s main policy initiatives address the region’s economic and ecological challenges. On 31 October 1997 Geniatulin declared a state of emergency in Chita Oblast to deal with the region’s energy crisis. In April 1996 the oblast Duma voted to restrict visits by foreigners to Chita to a maximum of fifteen days and to require all foreigners staying more than three days to register with the police. The administration also promised to give Sidanko priority in participating in the Eastern Transit project, which will supply gasoline and diesel fuel to China.