Perm Krai is a federal subject of Russia, located in Eastern Europe. Its administrative center is Perm. The population of the krai was 2,532,405. The krai was formed on 1 December 2005 as a result of the 2004 referendum on the merger of Perm Oblast and Komi-Permyak Autonomous Okrug. Komi-Permyak Okrug retained its autonomous status within Perm Krai during the transitional period of 2006–2008. It also retained a budget separate from that of the krai, keeping all federal transfers.