[1] In earlier East Slavic history, in the lands of Ruthenia, volost was a name for the territory ruled by the knyaz, a principality; either as an absolute ruler or with varying degree of autonomy from the Velikiy Knyaz (Grand Prince).
Since about the 16th century it was a part of provincial districts that were called "uezd" in Muscovy and the later Russian Empire.
These elect an elder (starshina) and, hitherto, a court of justice (volostnoy sud).
The self-government of the mirs and volosts was, however, tempered by the authority of the police commissaries (stanovoi) and by the power of general oversight given to the nominated "district committees for the affairs of the peasants".
[3] In modern Russia, Veps National Volost existed in the Republic of Karelia during 1996-2004.