Kish otaman

Kish otaman (Ukrainian: Кошовий отаман, romanized: Koshovyi otaman; also known as Koshovyi of the Zaporizhian Host) was a chief officer of the Kish (central body of government) of the Zaporozhian Host in the 16th through 18th centuries.

The otaman was elected by a council of elder officers (the starshyna) of the Zaporozhian Host.

A Kish otaman was elected for a term of one year and in exceptional cases was reelected.

Upon expiration of his term amounted to report on his activities to a military council.

It took some 25 years before the Russian government allowed for Cossacks to return to re-establish the New Sich by Ivan Malashevych.