city and centre of Svobodny rayon (sector), Amur oblast (region), southeastern Russia. It is situated on the right bank of the Zeya River, which is a tributary of the Amur River, and on the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Svobodny was founded in 1912. It is now an important transportation centre, having railway shops and serving as the operating and repair base for the steamship fleet of the Amur River. It also has shipbuilding and metalworking industries. Svobodny is connected by highway with Fevralsk, a station on the BAM (Baikal-Amur Magistral) railroad. Pop. (2005 est.) 62,424.