Peer-reviewed journal "Humanities and law research"
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The role of prosecutor’s office in jury trials in the Stavropol province at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries
Introduction. This article examines the activities of prosecutor’s office and jurors in considering criminal cases in Stavropol Province in post-reform Russia. It scrutinizes the tasks of prosecutors in the judicial process during the introduction of the jury system, as well as their impact on the implementation of new principles of justice, namely, the transparency and impartiality of the judiciary. The purpose of the study is to analyze the role of prosecutor’s office in jury trials, ensuring the transparency and fairness of trials in post-reform Russia. Analysis. The significance of the topic is determined by the value of accumulated experience in the development of the modern justice system, and the need to reflect on the role of prosecutor’s office in increasing public trust in the courts by demonstrating its powers and goals in connection with the improvement of the jury system. Materials and Methods. The article is based on objectivity and historicism and employs traditional historical research methods. Unpublished office documents, regulatory documents, and local newspaper materials were used as sources. Results. The analysis revealed that the prosecutor's office of Stavropol Governorate acted as a representative of state authority and a body overseeing compliance with the law during jury trials. As the study demonstrates, their work not only maintained law and order, justice, and transparency, but also increased public confidence in the fairness of the judiciary and legal proceedings, which played a significant role in the development of the institution of jurors
Archeological Heritage as a Component of Cultural Environment in the Studies of Mid XX – First Half XXI. Questions of Historiography
Introduction. The article is devoted to a historiographical analysis of the study of issues related to the forms and methods of representing the archaeological heritage in tourist and recreational activities. The studies, selected according to the degree of importance, characterize both the general theoretical and practical aspects of the efforts of employees of museum and archival services, the authorities responsible for protection of monuments, the archaeological community, and representatives of the tourism industry both in the overall Eurasian cultural space and in the North Caucasus in particular. Materials and Methods. The author used such methods as historical-comparative, analytical, method of historical analogies, method of systematization of primary sources. Special attention was paid to the works based on the North Caucasian materials. Analysis. The article examines the most significant works relevant for the chosen topic, which are grouped into three blocks. They reflect such aspects of the study as the forms of exhibiting the ancient objects, museification and the involvement of archaeologically immovable objects in the overall modern cultural context, the experience of working with the archaeological heritage not only of the European part of Russia, but also publications devoted to the North Caucasus region, summarized and presented in the works of the scientific and local history community, which is the first experience of this kind. Results. As a result, we concluded that the methods of working with archaeological objects presented in the stable exhibitions of museum collections have been most developed, while their use for the movable exhibitions or museums is not yet in demand. Issues related to the museification of immovable archaeological heritage sites, as well as their protection from anthropogenic stress, are becoming increasingly important. The main problems are the small number of specialized manuals for working with this type of historical sources, as well as the insufficient level of the trainers’ preparedness.
“Prometheism” and the ideas of independence of the Caucasus in the foreign policy plans of Poland in the 1920-1930s
Introduction. The issue of international relations between Poland and Russia remains an important field of research not only for political scientists but also for historians. The politics of memory is becoming an important component of the public political strategy for interpreting and consolidating historical discourse in the public consciousness, which helps regulate the functioning of collective memory. Commemorative practices are particularly in demand during periods of change for society, primarily during the formation or restoration of statehood, when the search for conceptual principles of a national idea is underway. In this regard, it is interesting to consider the idea of Prometheism as a special component of the foreign policy concept of Poland (the Second Polish Republic) in relation to the USSR. Materials and methods. The study is based on the analysis of diplomatic correspondence, Polish intelligence reports, and reports of Prometheus organizations, documents based on the diachronic method, taking into account the historical context. Analysis showed that the Caucasian Prometheus vector of the policy of Poland was directly dependent on its foreign policy objectives and the current political situation, which was determined by its interactions with Germany and the USSR. Results. The Caucasus did not play a decisive role in Polish policy in the 1920s and 1930s, but was viewed as a significant area capable of undermining the USSR domestic political stability through the destabilization of its national outskirts. It was seen as a desired outcome of the activities of émigré circles from Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and the North Caucasus who shared the Promethean idea. The formation of the Confederation of the Caucasus under Polish auspices failed in the 20th century, but the efforts of Poland to integrate the states of the South Caucasus into the orbit of EU policy can be considered as a follow-up.
Sport in the concept and practice of the “civilizing mission” of Great Britain in the second half of the XIX century
Introduction. The article analyzes the role of sport as a tool for the British to implement soft power policy in the British Empire in the second half of the 19th century. The author draws attention to the sports component in the concept of the “civilizational mission” of the British, as well as to sports education in the English educational system of future colonialists, provides examples of the spread of such British sports as cricket, rugby and boxing in the colonies of the empire with an emphasis on their local specifics. Materials and methods. The methodological basis includes the principles of objectivity and historicism, historical research methods: historical-systematic and synchronous historical-comparative, involving the study of simultaneous historical events, as well as the historical-genetic method, which made it possible to identify the vectors of the spread of English sports in the colonies of the British Empire. Analysis. The problems of British imperial policy in the 19th century are one of the most debated in foreign and domestic historical scholarship. Currently, the ideas of the “civilizing mission” of the British are sometimes viewed in correlation with the policy of soft power. An analysis of the research literature indicates that the British ruling circles used various violent and peaceful methods to maintain their power and authority in the colonies. Among the latter are the aspirations of the colonialists to spread British cultural values and traditions among the local population. The English language became the most important tool for the manifestation of soft power in the empire. But a special place in the cultural unity of the British Empire can be given to sports and games, which served as a cementing link between the metropolis and the colonies. Results. Studying the role of sport as a manifestation of soft power in the implementation of the UK civilizing mission allows examining the history of the British Empire and the specifics of the colonial system of governance in a more diverse way, identifying those factors that contributed to strengthening its unity, and laid the foundations for the future Commonwealth of Nations.
Experience of Using Digital Technologies and Content Analysis in Domestic Historiographic Research
Introduction. The article focuses on historiographic studies that utilize quantitative methods and digital technologies to analyze sources and historical databases. Specifically, it examines various studies that utilize modern digital technologies to examine historiographic sources. The article aims to explore the application of digital technologies in contemporary historiographic research. The authors pay particular attention to the research activities of members of the History and Computer Association, the Historical Informatics journal, and others who actively work in the field of computer source studies and fully implement an interdisciplinary approach, linking historical research with digital technologies. Materials and Methods. Methodology of the study is based on modern concepts of the functions, principles, and methods of historiographic research. The works of historians are considered in the light of their contribution to the study of the problem, depending on the needs of contemporary historical scholarship, the state of the source base, methodology, etc. Analysis. In Russian works employing content analysis in analyzing historiographic sources have been understudied, making this approach novel. The authors analyzed works devoted to pre-revolutionary, Soviet, and contemporary research. The historiographic sources reviewed present promising issues and directions, such as content analysis of periodicals, the history of Russian cities, historical biography, and the use of neural networks in historiography. Results. The authors conclude that the corpus of published historiographic works requires systematization and scientific analysis to identify a range of unresolved scientific problems and further develop an effective mechanism for studying historiographic sources. A content-analytical approach will allow us to determine the extent to which a given issue has been studied and identify promising directions in historical research.
The Nuclear Weapons Problem in Russian-American Relations: From Détente to Strategic Instability
Introduction. The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the nuclear weapons issue in relations between the Russian Federation and the United States of America, which has undergone fundamental changes over the past decades. The study begins with an examination of the historical context of arms control treaties, starting from the Cold War era, when the foundations of the strategic stability regime were laid (the ABM Treaty, SALT I, SALT II, START I, START II), and up to the current deep crisis around the New START Treaty, which has effectively suspended the functioning of this system. Materials and Methods. The study is based on the analysis of Soviet-American and Russian-American disarmament treaties, materials of the Russian Foreign Ministry, American administrations, and publications in the American press. A systemic integrated approach, specific historical and comparative historical methods were used. Analysis. Special attention is paid to a detailed analysis of the key factors that led to the transition from limited cooperation to open confrontation. These include a fundamental change in the world order and the growth of multipolarity, the emergence of new technological challenges (such as hypersonic weapons, missile defense systems, and the militarization of space), a systemic deterioration of the overall political climate and mutual trust, and a growing crisis in the nonproliferation regime associated with the withdrawal of key players from key agreements. Results. Based on current data and statements by the parties, an assessment is made of the risks of a new type of full-scale arms race, which would include not only strategic nuclear weapons but also tactical and high-precision conventional weapons. Specific threats of nuclear escalation in the context of regional conflicts and incidents are analyzed, and possible ways to reduce tensions are proposed, including measures to restore trust. Prospects for resuming a full-fledged dialogue on strategic stability in the new geopolitical environment are considered.
Repression as a Voice Giving, or How Holocaust Studies in Europe Became Subversive Subjects
Introduction. Certain historical topics are marginalized in one country and widely discussed in another. They are pushed out of the research field, banned, and marginalized by influential public figures and experts. It is particularly shocking when the history of the Holocaust or Nazi crimes in Europe becomes a subversive topic. Materials and Methods. The study is based on the analysis of interviews with two historians from Lithuania and Ukraine who wrote about the crimes of Nazi collaborators against the Jewish population during World War II and were subsequently subject to psychological pressure and forced to emigrate from their countries. Analysis. The analysis uses the concepts of state of emergency (George Agamben), modern European nationalisms (Maxim Herzfeld), multiple interpretations (Peter Virno), political metaphors, and changes in public opinion. Anti-Semitism and Nazi crimes have long been criminalized in European legislation. However, society and influential European politicians are currently unwilling to accept the truth about the Holocaust. On the other side of the scale is the formation of a new anti-Soviet/anti-Russian ideology, with its heroes – pro-fascist military units – for example, in Ukraine or Lithuania. Results. The suppression of subversive themes can lead to a surge in their popularity when the economic and/or political situation changes. The oppression of authors leads to their voices becoming influential and powerful.
“The ever-fervent zeal for the benefits of the state...”: about some facts of M.S. Vorontsov’s military and administrative biography on the pages of the Kavkaz newspaper
Introduction. The formation of the Caucus borderland of the Russian Empire in the 19th century is a complex and multifaceted process associated with the opposition of some local peoples to the imperial order. Founded in 1846 the Kavkaz newspaper, which has become an important element of regional periodical press, occupies a special place in this process. The publication served as a platform for covering the activities of military leaders and shaping public opinion in a difficult political environment. Among the many prominent figures, Governor M. S. Vorontsov, the initiator of the founding of the newspaper, deserves special attention. His activities as a military commander and administrator regularly became the focus of attention of journalists, which underlines the importance of his contribution to the life of the region. Materials and methods. The research is based on the analysis of texts published in the regional newspaper Kavkaz, as well as on the study of private sources, including correspondence and memoirs of contemporaries. The appeal to the work of contemporaries and participants of the events described, the analysis of their interpretation of what was happening allowed us to apply the methods of intellectual history to assess the personality of M.S. Vorontsov and his perception by the public. Analysis. When presenting the material in the publications of the Kavkaz newspaper, the main focus was on the heroism of ordinary participants in military operations, emphasized military camaraderie and highlighted the decisions of the command aimed at pacifying the region. At the same time, the personal merits of M.S. Vorontsov are mentioned with restraint, with an emphasis on the achievements of his subordinates, forming the image of a modest, but at the same time caring commander and competent leader, which is indicated by the achievements of subordinates. Results. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that M.S. Vorontsov possessed unconditional military and administrative talents. He made a significant contribution to the pacification of the Caucasus, pursuing an effective policy of spreading the Russian order in the region. His work combined power, economic and socio-cultural methods of influencing the situation. The Kavkaz newspaper introduced the course pursued by the governor to the public and became an important tool for shaping his positive image. The readers were encouraged to believe that the results achieved were a common accomplishment, and M.S. Vorontsov did not contrast his personal achievements with those of his subordinates.
Trade activity as a form of social elevator for mountain residents of the north-eastern Caucasus in the second half of the 19th century
Introduction. In the second half of the 19th century, the north-eastern Caucasus entered a new phase of its development after Russia strengthened its position there, consistently introducing the region into the system of political, socio-cultural and economic structures of the empire. Local mountain peoples had to not only rethink the new circumstances of life, but also look for their place in them. The new conditions simultaneously provided new opportunities for those who dared to go beyond the established framework of the previous tradition, sought to strengthen the financial situation of their families, achieve a higher social status, using the moment of the opened “window of opportunity”. Materials and methods. The study is based on the analysis and comprehension of the works of famous Russian historians-experts of the Caucasus and ethnographers representing various periods of the development of Russian historiography, devoted to the study of the socioeconomic, cultural and political conditions for the development of the North Caucasus in the second half of the 19th century, and was based on the principles of historicism and scientific objectivity. The author analyzes the prerequisites and factors that contributed to the consolidation of the institution of trade in the mountain environment. The appeal to the scientific works of specific researchers was determined not only by the richness of their works with diverse factual material, but also by their comprehensive insight into the essence of the processes that took place, as well as the proximity of some of them to the ethnocultural world of the Chechen and Dagestan peoples. Analysis. From the point of view of A.I. Khazbulatov, an almost insurmountable obstacle for people who decided to take advantage of the opened “window of opportunity” and made attempts to integrate into the processes of the new existence offered to the mountain residents by the authorities of the Russian Empire was the negative reaction of their relatives and fellow villagers, which threatened them with great trouble. Because of this, it was necessary to act extremely carefully and choose such fields that simultaneously contributed to the implementation of multi-vector tasks without causing rejection in the socio-cultural environment, which remained committed to tradition. According to the named researcher, such a field could be trade. Therefore, the trade field became the most accessible and effective means for a large number of mountain residents in solving the problems of material prosperity and achieving social prestige. H.-M. Khashaev and E.M. Dalgat share a similar opinion. Based on the opinions of I. Blaramberg, V.K. Gardanov, O.V. Marggraf and Ya.Z. Akhmadov, the author of the article concludes that for the mountain residents, trade became a social event and a breakthrough into a new life, motivated them to new value aspirations, and was a means for building positive relationships with other people. Results. In this case, trade also acted as an accessible “social lift” into a new life for many representatives of the mountain peoples, allowing them to acquire the desired level of well-being and achieve prestigious statuses in the new paradigm of social structure encouraged by the imperial authorities.
Peasant population of Yelets district in the first third of the 17th century
Introduction. The study of the peasant population of the Middle Don region in the 17th century is of significant interest in contemporary historical science, as peasants played a crucial role in the economic development of this area. The focus is on the rural population of the Yelets uyezd in the early 17th century. The article aims to analyze the census books from the first half of the 17th century, with the objective of determining the size of the peasant population in the Yelets uyezd, the number of peasant households, and assessing their average population density. Methods and materials. The methodological framework is based on general scientific, historical, and interdisciplinary research methods, particularly employing a microhistorical approach to address the research questions. The source base consists of the land survey and boundary books of the estate and landholdings in the Yelets uyezd by Leonty Pogozhev and Kirill Semyonov from 1628-1630. Analysis. The peasant population of the Yelets uyezd in the first third of the 17th century lived in four districts. Peasant households were distributed unevenly across the districts and settlements. The analysis of the tax data revealed that the average household size was 1 person. In the Yelets estates and landholdings, their share reached up to 94%. The scribes, when describing villages and hamlets in the Yelets uyezd in 1628/1630, noted at least one person in a household to register it as «inhabited». At the district level, the prevalence of «single-person» households corresponded territorially to the predominance of estate landownership. The close interrelation between the peasant and the landowner is indicated by correlation data, showing that around 90% of all peasants and landless labourers in the district lived on estate lands. Results. The placement of peasant households in the villages and hamlets of the Yelets district in the first half of the 17th century was determined by several key factors. The impact of external threats, particularly from the regular raids by the Crimean Tatars in the first half of the 17th century, was of particular significance. This situation considerably slowed down the development of the land and led to an uneven distribution of the peasant population. In the context of external danger from the Crimean Tatars and frequent instances of peasant flight, it was crucial to document the household owner – a person capable of cultivating the land and bearing obligations to the landowner. Both landowners and the state had a vested interest in this.
The representation of the history of Polish uprisings in Soviet textbooks in 1947-1956
Introduction. Soviet memory politics remains one of the most pressing topics in contemporary historiography. Of considerable interest to researchers is the still insufficiently studied period in the history of Soviet memory politics after World War II. An important, still unstudied aspect of Soviet memory politics is the representation in the USSR of such conflict periods and events as the Polish uprisings – themes of a common problematic past with a new ally – socialist Poland. Materials and Methods. The source base of the research is Soviet history textbooks for primary, secondary, secondary vocational and higher historical education published in the period from 1947 to 1956. The author refers to the methods of studying historical memory (memory studies), the work of the founder of this methodology, M. Halbwachs and his concept of the social framework of memory. Analysis. In this article, the author examines the representation of the Polish uprisings of 1794, 1830-1831 and 1863 in various Soviet textbooks for secondary, specialized secondary and higher education from 1947 (the establishment of the Institute of Slavic Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences and the strengthening of the pro-Soviet government in Poland) to 1956 (de-Stalinization in the USSR and the end of the B. Bierut era in Poland). Results. The author concludes that Polish uprisings in Soviet educational literature of the late Stalinist period were presented as having primarily class causes, while the ethnopolitical motive in the ideology of Polish insurgents was presented as secondary. The uprising of 1863 received the greatest attention in Soviet educational literature, as the closest to revolutionary democratic ideology.
Women and Everyday Life in Bolshevik Projects and Soviet Reality of the 1920s (Based on the Materials from Stavropol region)
Introduction. The article examines Bolshevik ideas about women’s social place in the new society, their everyday reality in the 1920s, and the policies of the government to implement their projects, using Stavropol as an example. Since gender history and the history of everyday life converge in this case, approaches from these fields were used to demonstrate the forms of women’s involvement in public work as a means of shaping a new everyday life. The article is based on the historiographical experience of foreign and domestic studies in its relevant fields – the history of everyday life and gender history, as well as intellectual history in the context of changes in public and mass consciousness. Materials and Methods. The study is based on the first legislative documents of the Soviet power, the articles of post-revolutionary figures, and archival records of district, provincial, and city party committees in Stavropol, as well as records of executive committees at various levels from the State Archive of Contemporary History of Stavropol Krai and the State Archive of Stavropol Krai. Along with objectivity and historicity principles, methodological tools from such fields of historical research as everyday history, gender history, modern local history, and cultural and intellectual history were employed. Analysis. With the reference to historical sources, the article examines such issues as the policy of the first years of the Soviet power regarding the status of women. Social thought of this period and the ideas of the government were based on the overall goal of creating a “new person”, and the education of a “new woman” as part of this project. This particular aspect of the task was to involve women’s hands in social production and women’s minds in the overall process of ideologizing society in the spirit of faith in communism and its construction. The practical implementation of these goals led to a revolution not only in the mass consciousness but also in women’s everyday lives. Social forms of communication, the practice of creating conditions for mothers and children, the fight for literacy, and women’s own rethinking of their role in society and the home all entered their private lives. The article explores the implementation of Soviet policy to change the place of women in socialist construction in the Stavropol province and district, and the difficulties of a region that had survived the Civil War and famine, located on the outskirts of the former Russian Empire, and was experiencing economic and financial devastation. Nevertheless, as sources indicate, even under these conditions, attempts were made to organize women to participate in public life in various forms, to help pregnant and nursing mothers with food and essential items, and to create conditions for education outside the family. Results. Based on the above mentioned, it can be concluded that despite the difficulties, despite the traditionalism of the conservative part of society, which was unwilling to change the status of women as domestic slaves and child-producing machines, despite the religiosity and illiteracy of women in this agricultural region, new ideas and new social practices changed women’s daily lives in this region.
The Potential of an Interdisciplinary Approach to Historical Research in the Current Development of Russian and International History
Introduction. This article addresses the pressing issue of applying modern interdisciplinary approaches to historical research in Russian and international history. These approaches open up opportunities for incorporating sources and methods unconventional for historians, fostering open interdisciplinary discussion, and enhancing transparency and intersubjective corroboration. Thus, not only the properties of the object that guide research interest, but also the interdisciplinary approaches themselves, by shaping and "bringing together" the necessary theories, concepts, and methods from the humanities and natural sciences – such as political science, sociology, psychology, economics, biology, mathematics, and others – are used for a more in-depth and comprehensive analysis of the object under study. Interdisciplinary approaches, as part of research approaches, define the strategy, tactics, means, and methods of research, combining knowledge and "bringing together" disciplines in the search for a "unified field" where mechanisms of convergence or divergence operate, delimiting, separating, and accumulating differences. At the current stage of development in Russian and international history, it is necessary to understand these mechanisms, as well as the results of applying interdisciplinary approaches. Materials and methods. The proposed study is based on an analysis of interdisciplinary approaches in selected scholarly works of modern historical research, employing theoretical methods based on both traditions and ideas of pluralism in objective knowledge and methods that encourage methodological diversity. Analysis. An analysis of the application of interdisciplinary approaches within the framework of the research area allowed us to identify two research positions, which can be conditionally described as optimistic – demonstrating the possibility of expanding the boundaries of research, the development of objective processes of divergence and convergence of science taking place in the modern world, facilitating the acquisition of new knowledge and the formation of new disciplines; and a pessimistic position, whose critical view of interdisciplinarity is based on the unproductiveness of approaches, the possible blurring of the boundaries of the applied disciplines, the lack of deep knowledge in other disciplines, and the complexity of integration processes. Results. It has been determined that the trend in contemporary historical research in Russian and international history is determined, on the one hand, by the conceptualization of historical knowledge and methodological foundations, and, on the other, by theoretical pluralism and methodological "convergence," processes that lead to interdisciplinarity and the search for methods adequate to the modern understanding of historical knowledge.
The Beginning of the Italian Wars: Charles VIII, Florence and its Prophet
Introduction. At the end of the 15th century, political prophecies became widespread in Western Europe, including those that served as justification for the Italian Wars (1494–1559) initiated by the Neapolitan expedition of the French King Charles VIII. Among those who foretold the emergence of a new Charlemagne on the Apennine Peninsula was the Florentine prophet-reformer Girolamo Savonarola. The analysis of his texts allows identifying the peculiarities of the monk’s interpretation of the events that shook Italy in 1494– 1495. Materials and methods. The problematic field of the article is connected with such areas of historical research as intellectual history and the history of ideas. The analysis of Savonarola’s writings, the testimonies of contemporaries of events, as well as French political prophecies, required the application of comparative and interpretive methods, as well as the methods of terminological analysis. Analysis. From the time of his conversion to the prophetic method of preaching until the beginning of the Italian Wars, Savonarola, in the spirit of most contemporary preachers, proclaimed the imminent renewal of the Church through various calamities. Apocalyptic prophecies are embodied in the images of a sword, a new Cyrus, and a flood. The events surrounding the arrival of the French army in the autumn of 1494 confirm the Dominican’s revelations and definitively confirm his status as a prophet. The preacher interpreted the misfortunes that befell Italy as «tribolazioni» – trials sent by God to motivate the inhabitants of the peninsula, and above all the Florentines, to repentance, correction and conversion to the true faith. At the same time, the monk practiced two «methods» of prophecy: «profesia assoluta», which would be fulfilled in any case (reform of the Church, prosperity of Florence), and «profesia condizionata», «conditioned by threat or promise», which presupposed the manifestation of human free will, and was supposed to give impetus to collective and individual actions aimed at transforming the contemporary society. Results. During the Naples expedition of Charles VIII, Savonarola vacillated between an apocalyptic message, or rather predictions in the spirit of the Old Testament prophets, who accompanied the call for correction with the threat of divine punishment (the instrument of which was the King of France), and a millenarian vision of the future, relating above all to the city chosen by the Lord – Florence, and, in general, to the transformed Church.
The formation of the Soviet militia in the context of daily life of the Southern province (based on the materials of the Caucasian Mineral Waters)
Introduction. The article shows the role of regional police departments in the formation of a new Soviet daily routine (Kislovodsk, Zheleznovodsk, Pyatigorsk and Yessentuki) in the early 1920s. The purpose of the study is to integrate the process of formation of the Soviet law enforcement system into the transformation of urban everyday life. Materials and Methods. The historical and genetic method was used in the study and a historical and legal analysis was carried out. In addition, the research task itself is formulated and solved in the paradigm of new local history. The main source was office documents collected in the State Archive of the Stavropol Krai. Analysis. The organized Soviet militia had to solve both the tasks of maintaining order and educating and rehabilitating Soviet society. Referring to the experience of the cities of the CMS made it possible to identify and study the peculiarities of the daily life of both the Soviet militia itself and the cities into whose sociocultural space the militia was integrated. The demobilization of the Red Army soldiers became a big problem, many of whom could not find themselves and chose the path of crime. The daily routine, including labor of police officers, is marked by the hardships of the post-revolutionary and post-war period. Hence the attempt to find side earnings, low professional level, lack of understanding of their functionality, negligence and even arbitrariness. Results. The conclusions are drawn that the police and their everyday life were part of urban daily life, and how new and old phenomena of everyday life of citizens were reflected in criminal practice.
The Caspian region in the system of international relations: legal status, resources and foreign policy strategies
Introduction. The article examines the legal status of the Caspian Sea as well as the influence of global and regional actors on the geopolitical situation in the Caspian region, which holds a strategically important position in Eurasia and serves as a crossroads for key transport and energy corridors. Materials and Methods. The study is based on the ideographic method, the principle of historicism that is, analyzing research objects in connection with specific historical conditions and the principle of systematics, which involves identifying individual components within the system and establishing interrelations among them. Sources used include materials on the diplomatic settlement of the status of the Caspian Sea, assessments by economic researchers, and regional security experts. Analysis. The article notes that defining the legal status of the Caspian Sea was a key regional issue, resolved in 2018 by the Convention that recognized the unique status of the Caspian sea based on the principles of sovereignty and cooperation. However, issues related to the delimitation of the seabed and subsoil remain unresolved. External influence from the US and China intensifies competition in the region: the US seeks to constrain Russia and China by supporting Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, while China actively invests in energy and infrastructure, especially in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Russia maintains a dominant position but is forced to adapt to new realities, including sanctions and increased activity from other players. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan pursue multi-vector cooperation, balancing relations among major powers. Results. It has been revealed that despite efforts to resolve contradictions and establish the legal status of the Caspian Sea, thereby creating a documented balance among regional actors, the Caspian region maintains a high level of conflict, remaining an arena of rivalry both among the littoral states and the great powers interested in controlling its abundant energy resources and expanding their influence.
Linguistic adaptation of foreign citizens to Russian society as an element of the state migration policy: a regulatory aspect
Introduction. The issues of adaptation of foreign citizens to Russian society have recently become increasingly important in the implementation of state policies aimed at developing interethnic, interfaith, socio-cultural interaction, socio-economic development, and ensuring the internal stability of the state. Materials and methods. The study is conducted through the analysis of current regulatory legal acts, which identifies key trends in the development of Russian legislation, as well as gaps in legal regulation that may affect the implementation of the right to education in the Russian Federation. The present research is based on the use of the formal legal, comparative legal, system method and the method of analysis. Analysis. The study analyzes the issues of legal support for the linguistic adaptation of foreign citizens to Russian society, the specifics of the legislative regulation of the procedure for testing knowledge of the Russian language, and identifies the main results of law enforcement practice in implementing this mechanism. It is noted that over the past decades, priorities in the migration policy implemented by the state have shifted from ensuring socioeconomic interests to ensuring national security. Results. The study leads to the conclusion that the maintenance of a mechanism for testing foreign citizens and their children for knowledge of the Russian language has become one of the conditions for the realization by these categories of persons of their rights to carry out legal labor and education in the territory of the Russian Federation, which, in turn, is designed to promote their further socialization in Russian society, as a result, ensuring internal stability and socio-economic development.
The legal construction of emphyteusis in Roman, Byzantine and Modern European law
Introduction. Limited proprietary rights to real estate, including emphyteusis, have a long history of origin and development. The roots of the evolution of emphyteusis go back to the ancient Roman civil tradition, while the main features of such a right are reflected almost unchanged in the legislative systems of modern times. At the same time, emphyteusis, in comparison with other rights to other people’s things, such as easements or usufruct, is currently not widespread. Materials and methods. The study of the legal nature of emphyteusis, its key features as a real right, the analysis of the emergence and further legislative development are based on the use of the dialectical method, the historical and legal method, the method of comparative jurisprudence (comparative law). By analyzing the sources of Roman private law (Digests, the Justinian Code), the Byzantine land legislation, modern foreign and Russian legislation, the works of German pandectists, historians, and specialists in the field of civil law in Russia and abroad, the article examines the model of classical emphyteusis and its impact on the formation of modern legislation on property rights. Analysis. Along with easements, usufruct, and superficies, emphyteusis is one of the limited property rights that allow the use of other people’s real estate - agricultural land plots on a basis other than a lease obligation. Classical emphyteusis was formed as an independent property law as a result of the agrarian policy of the Roman authorities aimed at overcoming the crisis in agriculture, and the constitutive features of emphyteusis, characterizing it as Jus in re, as a result of the reception of Roman private law, were reflected first in the law of feudal Europe, and then in modern civil law. Results. The author’s definition of emphytheusis is formulated. The similarities and fundamental differences between classical and modern emphytheusis are identified, the provisions of which are contained in the norms of European private law. Conclusions are drawn about the inexpediency of transferring the construction of emphyteusis (permanent land tenure rights) to Russian civil and land legislation.
Legal culture: selected aspects in the context of legal theory and the legal organization of Belarusian society
Introduction. The article is written in continuation of the theoretical studies of legal culture presented in the author’s scientific works. The phenomenon of legal culture is considered in the context of the theoretical provisions formed within the framework of the information-semiotic and activitybased approaches to the study of legal culture in legal studies, which allows us to characterize certain aspects of legal culture within the framework of the provisions of legal theory and the practice of organizing the legal life of Belarusian society. Materials and methods. The paper presents the information, communication, and activity aspects of legal culture. The integration of these approaches is intended to characterize the specifics of national legal culture. General scientific methods of generalization and systematization, as well as the specific scientific method of formal-dogmatic analysis, have been applied. Analysis. The information-semiotic approach to the study of legal culture is revealed through the characteristics of legal signs and symbols formed in the national legal system. The activity aspect of legal culture is presented from the standpoint of the essential features of law-making, law enforcement and law-educational activities, which together characterize the peculiarities of legal communication. Results. Theoretical provisions have been formed, which are intended to characterize the distinctive features of the legal life of modern Belarusian society, assess the level of legal culture of society, and predict the directions of social legal development. The defining role in the formation and functioning of legal culture as a social phenomenon is recognized for lawmaking and legal education, which establish the qualitative characteristics of all spheres of legal life in modern society.
Lex mercatoria: retrospectives and prospects
Introduction. Lex mercatoria is an autonomous set of legal principles that operates in parallel with national legal systems and meets the needs of international counterparties for uniformity of regulation. The rapid complication of international economic relations and the development of digital trading platforms exacerbate the need to study this phenomenon as a selfregulating system formed directly by participants in international trade. The study is aimed at revealing the ambiguous nature of lex mercatoria through the prism of the historical formation of this institution, its modern functioning and transformational potential in the context of the globalization of commercial activity. Materials and Methods. The methodological base of the research includes an integrative approach that combines prognostic, systemic, historical, legal, and formal legal methods of scientific cognition. The source base is formed from multi-level materials: doctrinal provisions of researchers of private international law, international normative acts, law enforcement practice of transnational arbitration, documentation of trade associations and corporate codes of conduct analysis of decisions of international commercial arbitration institutions as the most important conductors of the application of lex mercatoria in the modern legal space. Analysis. The authors examine the lex mercatoria as a multifaceted phenomenon through the identification of its changes from medieval merchant law to the modern self-regulating transnational system. The authors undertake a theoretical comprehension of the dichotomy between legal positivism and the natural-law approach to the legitimation of lex mercatoria. problematic aspects of the implementation of the principles of lex mercatoria in national legislation and use in law enforcement. New trends in the development of transnational commercial law in the context of digitalization are investigated. Results. The study demonstrates the evolutionary stability of lex mercatoria as a phenomenon that adapts to the changing conditions of international trade while maintaining its essential autonomy. The key factors of the viability of this system are revealed: procedural flexibility, orientation to a fair balance of interests of participants in trade relations and the ability to incorporate new trade practices. innovative technological solutions that form a new generation of transnational regulation. A conceptual model of cooperative interaction between national legal systems and lex mercatoria is proposed. A correlation has been established between the effectiveness of lex mercatoria and the degree of internationalization of individual segments of commercial activity, which makes it possible to predict the further evolution of this legal phenomenon.
On the material nature of a biomedical cell product as an object of civil rights
Introduction. Determining the legal nature of a biomedical cell product as an object of civil rights is an urgent and complex task. The need to consider a biomedical cell product within the framework of the property law concept is due to the fact that, as a result of the modification and cultivation of cell lines, it is primarily an object of the material world. Materials and Methods. The study is based on an analysis of doctrinal approaches to the definition and classification of things in Russian civil law, as well as the provisions of legislation that establish the legal regime of things and the circulation of biomedical cell products. The study also actively used special legal methods of cognition, which allowed for a comprehensive understanding of the categories of things and biomedical cell products as legal phenomena. Analysis. A biomedical cell product can be characterized as a human-made, individually distinct part of the material world that has a certain value for humans and can theoretically be subject to the dominion of certain subjects of civil law relations, which means that it can be subject to the legal regime of a thing to a certain extent. A biomedical cell product can be considered as a movable, complex, main, indivisible, consumable, and inanimate thing. Additionally, depending on its type, a biomedical cell product can be defined as either a generic or an individually specific thing. The nature of the legal relations that arise during the circulation of a biomedical cell product indicates that it can be considered both an existing and a future thing. Results. Based on the results of the conducted research, it can be concluded that the legal regime of a biomedical cell product continues to be formed. Regarding the property-legal nature of a biomedical cell product, it is correct to conclude that only certain elements of the property-legal regime apply to it, but its legal nature goes beyond the classical civil law understanding of property and requires further research. Therefore, the classification of a biomedical cell product as a property is not absolute and should be adjusted to take into account ethical values (human dignity, personal health, and biosafety).
Legal issues of resort infrastructure development in the Caucasian Mineral Waters: achievements and shortcomings of federal and regional legislation
Introduction. The article examines federal and regional legislation aimed at observing public interests in creating, preserving, and developing resort infrastructure, focusing on the ecological and resort region of Caucasian Mineral Waters. Materials and methods. The study utilized general scientific methods such as analysis, synthesis, and statistics, alongside private legal methods including comparative legal analysis, functional legal analysis, and methods to identify legal gaps and conflicts to propose solutions. Analysis. The article emphasizes that both federal and regional legislation lack a clear and comprehensive definition of “resort infrastructure”. Existing regulatory definitions remain extremely incomplete and require substantial revision. Flaws in federal legislation impact law enforcement nationwide, including in Caucasian Mineral Waters. The article provides examples of inadequate infrastructure attributed to state underfunding and chaotic development inconsistent with state legal resort policies. The study identifies issues in regional legislation not exclusive to the Stavropol Krai but relevant across Russia, associated with federal legislation gaps. Recommendations are made for improving federal legislation, drawing on the Law of the Republic of Crimea dated July 7, 2017, No. 409-ZRK / 2017, ‘On the specifics of creating zones with a special architectural and planning organization of the territory”. It is proposed to extend practices of this regional law to other regions of Russia, particularly the Caucasian Mineral Waters. Results. A differentiated approach to the concept of “resort infrastructure” is proposed, defining its functional components concerning the regime of economic activity restrictions in resorts. Several proposals are outlined for enhancing federal legislation. Several proposals have been formulated to improve federal legislation
Criminalization of bribery: legislative potential and real judicial practice
Introduction. The article notes that for many years, the states, including the Russian Federation, have been looking for ways to counteract such a negative phenomenon as corruption. Corruption is identified as one of the threats to national security, and countering it is the most important activity of various government structures and public organizations. The eradication of corruption is one of the strategic national priorities. Bribery occupies a special place among corruption crimes. The authors draw attention to the fact that, despite the measures taken to combat corruption, statistics still show unfavorable trends, which requires finding the reasons for this and developing new ways to combat corruption in general, as well as its manifestation, such as bribery. Materials and methods. The study is based on the analysis of statistical data on the number of corruption crimes committed, including bribery, on the number of persons prosecuted for bribery, as well as on measures applied to those who commit these crimes. When studying the topic, such methods as statistical, formal-logical, comparative-legal were used. Analysis. The article analyzes criminal legislation from the point of view of its effectiveness in countering bribery, defines the vectors of development of criminal law norms since the adoption of the criminal law. It is noted that neither the tightening nor the mitigation of penalties for bribery had a serious impact on the dynamics of bribery, which raises certain questions related not only to the quality of the criminal law, but also to the practice of its application. Results. Having studied the results of the consideration of criminal cases on bribery, the authors conclude that the potential of the criminal law in terms of punishability of bribery could be used by the courts to a greater extent.
Semantics and pragmatics of metaphorical quantitative meanings/uses of nominations of a large number of objects
Introduction. The article examines the features of the semantics and pragmatics of lexemes with the metaphorical quantitative meaning “indefinite large number”, which occurs in colloquial speech in the process of nominating a large (more than the norm, measure) number of things, objects, and artifacts. Materials and methods. The material consisted of dictionary entries of lexemes arsenal, pile, bulk, pile, blockage, pile, box, pile, row, fountain, stack and fragments of colloquial speech, including these words in a figurative sense. Using general scientific methods, as well as linguistic ones, primarily the method of component analysis, the definitions of dictionary entries of these lexemes were analyzed, the features of their semantics, pragmatics and their lexical compatibility in everyday communication were considered. Analysis. In the course of the work, the metaphorical quantitative meaning of the studied words was characterized, the dynamics of its formation during the XX-XXI centuries was shown based on the definitions of explanatory dictionaries and colloquial texts. The peculiarities of the semantic structure of each lexeme in the named meaning are revealed during the analysis of its lexical compatibility and in comparison with the lexical compatibility of the nominations included in the studied group. Results. The use of the named names of things, objects, and artifacts in everyday speech as metaphorical quantitative nominations with the meaning of “indefinite large number” is specific to each lexeme and is determined by its specific lexical compatibility. The degree of loss of nominative meaning in the studied lexemes is different, which is related to the possibility or impossibility of their interchangeability in similar contexts.
“A researcher constantly gaining experience and maturity”: in memory of the colleague and comrade Sergei Leonidovich Dudarev