Caucasus Research Articles

Comparison of neotectonic intermontane basins of Northern Armenia and Eastern Türkiye

The results of comparative analysis of the structure and history of the Neogene-Quaternary development of 18 inrermontane basins in Northern Armenia and Eastern Türkiye are presented. The research is based on expeditionary work carried out by the authors in 2012–2023, and supplemented by published materials from other researchers. Palaeontological, magnetostratigraphic and radioisotope data on the stratigraphy of the basins are analyzed. The comparison made it possible to identify four stages of basin development, expressed by the nature of sedimentation: (i) marine sedimentation; (ii) predominantly lacustrine accumulation of fine-grained clastic material transported from low uplifts; (iii) lacustrine-alluvial sedimentation with a significant proportion of coarse material carried down from neighboring uplifts: (iv) involvement of the basins in the total rise of the region, which in most depressions is expressed by increased incision of watercourses into previously emerged landforms, and in the Sevan depression is combined with ongoing lacustrine-alluvial sedimentation. A consistent rejuvenation of stages (i)–(iii) of the basin development in the northern direction is revealed. It is caused with the growth and expansion to the north of the uplift of the Taurus Ridge in the process of its thrusting onto the Arabian Plate. At the same time, the development of the basins revealed the impact of tectonic events in the Middle and South Caspian. It was expressed in the Early Pliocene by the unconformity and the appearance of coarse clastic rocks, reflecting the increasing contrast of vertical movements between the Caucasian and Caspian regions, and at the end of the Late Pliocene by the penetration of waters of the Akchagylian transgression of the Caspian Sea into some basins. These features of the development of the basins did not depend on differences in their origin, which was determined by the influence of several factors. Among them, the main ones were movements on faults as a result of the interaction of lithospheric blocks and subsidence, caused by movements of sublithospheric masses, expressed by volcanism. Secondary roles were played by the behavior of the ophiolitic substrate and the tectono-volcanic damming of river valleys.

Genotyping-by-sequencing shows high genetic diversity in Corylus avellana germplasm resistant to eastern filbert blight

European hazelnut (Corylus avellana) is an anemophilous, dichogamous, self-incompatible tree nut species. It is native to a large portion of Europe, Turkey, and the Caucasus region, across which a wealth of plant genetic resources is present. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of a core set of C. avellana representing the world’s germplasm using genotyping-by-sequencing derived single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and to classify novel eastern filbert blight (EFB) resistant or tolerant accessions. Two-hundred-twenty-two accessions underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS) to generate SNP markers. From this, 1,250 SNP markers were used to construct a neighbor-joining (NJ) dendrogram and perform a STRUCTURE and discriminant analysis of principal coordinates (DAPC) analyses. In the dendrogram, five major groups were established, which generally corresponded to geographic origins of the plant materials studied. In STRUCTURE, support was found for groupings at (K) = 3, (K) = 6, and (K) = 10 populations, with the greatest Δ-(K) value occurring at (K) = 10. Although the three different analyses indicated slightly different solutions, the overall results were generally consistent from the standpoint of identifying similar accession groupings. For many of the accessions, recorded origins tended to correspond with their genetic grouping, although there was also evidence of intermixing and likely movement of plant materials. Interestingly, in all three analyses, a vast majority of the new accessions from the Republic of Georgia formed their own distinct group, highlighting this geographic region as a unique pool of C. avellana genetic resources. Overall, EFB resistant/tolerant accessions were placed across a wide range of genetic backgrounds. Thus, our results indicate EFB resistance/tolerance is present across a wide spectrum of C. avellana genetic resources, with the Georgian accessions representing a new and relatively unique germplasm pool that can be incorporated into hazelnut breeding programs.

Diversity of Northwestern and North Caucasian Populations of <i>Puccinia striiformis</i> f. sp. <i>tritici</i> by Virulence and Microsatellite Loci in 2022

Yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, Pst) is a potentially dangerous disease of wheat. Genetic protection of wheat is an environmentally safe method of control. For its successful application, information on the structure of regional populations of the pathogen is needed. The purpose of these studies is to characterize the virulence and molecular polymorphism of Russian Pst populations in 2022. Wheat leaves with Pst urediniopustules were obtained from the North Caucasus (Krasnodar Territory, Dagestan, Kalmykia) and Northwestern (Leningrad region) regions. Virulence analysis was performed on 14 isogenic lines (AvocetNIL) and 15 differentiator varieties. The polymorphism of 20 microsatellite loci was evaluated in molecular analysis. We used SSR markers recommended by the Global Rust Reference Center. Virulence was studied in 74 monopustular isolates: 29 Dagestan, 10 Krasnodar, 5 Kalmyk, 30 northwestern. Resistance to all isolates was shown for lines with genes Yr5, Yr10, Yr15, Yr24, Yr26 and varieties Moro (Yr10, YrMor) and Nord Desprez (Yr3, YrND, Yr+). Isolates virulent to the AvYr17 line were detected for the first time in Dagestan and Krasnodar populations. They were moderately represented in the northwestern population (13%). Significant variation was observed in lines and varieties with the Yr1 and Yr3 genes. There was a decrease in virulence to Yr7 and YrSp compared to 2019–2021. 28 phenotypes (races) were determined in the virulence analysis (15 in Dagestan, 11 in North West, 3 in Krasnodar and 2 in Kalmyk). A common phenotype was noted for three North Caucasian Pst samples. The genetic distances between the identified phenotypes were estimated. In the multidimensional diagram, most of them combined together in a common group, with the exception of three Dagestan phenotypes with the fewest virulence alleles. According to the Fst index, Dagestan and Kalmyk Pst collections were characterized by high similarity; others differed moderately from them. The long-term virulence dynamics (2019–2022) of Pst populations in the Northwestern and North Caucasian regions was assessed. High similarity was determined between all regional population samples in 2019 and 2020. The northwestern and Dagestan populations differed slightly from them in 2021 and 2022. In 2022, the Krasnodar and Kalmyk populations were divided into separate groups, which differed from each other and from the main group. Long-term results of virulence analysis indicate a high dynamic of the structure of Pst populations in Russia. All North Caucasian isolates and 23 Northwestern isolates were used in the SSR analysis. Six loci (RYN3, RYN9, RYN12, WU6, RJO21, RJO24) were monomorphic. Three polymorphic alleles were identified in the RYN13 and RJO27 loci and two in the remaining studied ones. Significant deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium are noted for most loci. The observed heterozygosity exceeded the expected one, which indicates an excess of heterozygotes and the clonal origin of the population. The studied collection of isolates was represented by 20 multilocus genotypes (MGs) (Dagestan and Northwestern – 11 each, Krasnodar – 3, Kalmyk – 1). Common genotypes were detected in Dagestan, Krasnodar and Northwestern populations (MG_1); Dagestan, Kalmyk and Northwestern (MG_2); Dagestan and Krasnodar (MG_3, MG_4). The genetic distances between MGs were estimated. In the multidimensional diagram, they are divided into 4 groups. The main group included 80% of MGs. One Dagestan MG, two Northwestern MG and MG_3 common for Dagestan and Krasnodar collections, significantly differentiated from the main group and among themselves. According to the Fst index, most regional Pst collections were moderately differentiated among themselves, with the exception of Dagestan and Kalmyk, which is consistent with the virulence analysis. According to the Mantel test, a moderate correlation was found between the results of virulence analysis and SSR (r = 0.6). This indicates that both analyses can be used in assessing the genetic polymorphism of Pst. The high variability of Russian populations based on virulence and microsatellite loci determines the need for annual monitoring of regional Pst populations in Russia.

Unveiling the Genome-Wide Consequences of Range Expansion and Mating System Transitions in Primula vulgaris.

Genetic diversity is heterogeneously distributed among populations of the same species, due to the joint effects of multiple demographic processes, including range contractions and expansions, and mating systems shifts. Here, we ask how both processes shape genomic diversity in space and time in the classical Primula vulgaris model. This perennial herb originated in the Caucasus region and was hypothesized to have expanded westward following glacial retreat in the Quaternary. Moreover, this species is a long-standing model for mating system transitions, exemplified by shifts from heterostyly to homostyly. Leveraging a high-quality reference genome of the closely related Primula veris and whole-genome resequencing data from both heterostylous and homostylous individuals from populations encompassing a wide distribution of P. vulgaris, we reconstructed the demographic history of P. vulgaris. Results are compatible with the previously proposed hypothesis of range expansion from the Caucasus region approximately 79,000 years ago and suggest later shifts to homostyly following rather than preceding postglacial colonization of England. Furthermore, in accordance with population genetic theoretical predictions, both processes are associated with reduced genetic diversity, increased linkage disequilibrium, and reduced efficacy of purifying selection. A novel result concerns the contrasting effects of range expansion versus shift to homostyly on transposable elements, for the former, process is associated with changes in transposable element genomic content, while the latter is not. Jointly, our results elucidate how the interactions among range expansion, transitions to selfing, and Quaternary climatic oscillations shape plant evolution.

Historical drivers and future streamflow variations of the Kura River in the Western Transcaucasia region of Georgia: Analysis of tree-ring chronologies from 1720 to 2021 CE

In this paper, we conduct a dendrochronological study in the Western Transcaucasia region of Georgia to elucidate the relationship between tree growth and climatic variables (temperature, precipitation, and streamflow) in order to reconstruct the paleohydrology of the Kura River and to assess the impacts of climate change on water resources. We analyzed tree-ring chronologies from 1720 to 2021 CE, and analysis of July–August streamflow revealed five wet phases (1739–1753, 1764–1807, 1811–1831, 1962–1988 and 2000–2019 CE ranging in duration from 11 to 49 years) when streamflow exceeded the long-term mean, and four dry phases (1720–1738, 1832–1881, 1936–1961 and 1989–1999 CE) when streamflow was below average. The most extreme wet and dry years were 1771 and 1851 CE, respectively. Spatial correlation patterns of Kura River reconstructed runoff against sea level pressure (SLP) are negative in the Arctic and positive in mid- to high-latitude Eurasia. The Arctic Oscillation (AO)/North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and solar activity are important drivers of hydroclimatic conditions in the Mediterranean region, by modifying the location of high-pressure areas and large-scale atmospheric circulations. Comparison of our Kura streamflow reconstructions and data in the Old World Drought Atlas (OWDA) reveals a moderately positive correlation (0.40) throughout the study period, being strongest over the Southern Caucasus and Eastern Turkey. This validates the drought signals and emphasizes the importance of using multi-proxy approaches, supported by spatially resolved data, to enhance understanding of regional hydroclimatic variability and drought patterns. We additionally conducted future streamflow scenarios, most notably under the high-emission SSP585 scenario, in line with global trends in CMIP6 projections. Our streamflow results indicate a trend towards increasing drought severity, which highlights the need for urgent adaptation and mitigation strategies in water resource management in this region. Ultimately, this study provides valuable information on historical hydroclimatic conditions in the Kura River Basin, which help to develop strategies to mitigate the hydrologic impacts of climate change in the Western Transcaucasia Caucasus region. We further highlight the importance of regional and global teleconnections for understanding regional hydrological dynamics.

Assessment of the Health Status of Whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus Linnaeus, 1758) and the Quality of Its Habitat in Lake Sevan (Armenia) Using a Multi-Biomarker Approach

Lake Sevan is a freshwater reservoir in the Caucasus region. Since the first half of the 20th century, the lake has undergone significant changes caused by human activity and anthropogenic pressure. To identify the current ecological state of two bays—Lchashen and Lichk—located in different parts of the lake, a study was conducted in 2022–2023 using a multi-biomarker approach. For this purpose, biomarkers for assessing the health status of fish and the quality of their living conditions were used such as the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the brain, glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and the concentration of reduced glutathione (RGS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver and gills of the whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus Linnaeus, 1758). In addition, hydrochemical and ichthyological analyses were conducted. This study demonstrated seasonal dynamics for all biomarkers. Comparative analysis of biomarkers and hydrochemical and ichthyological data showed that the whitefish in Lchashen Bay is in worse health, and its living conditions there are less favorable than in Lichk Bay.

Managing Patients With COVID-19 in Armenia Using a Remote Monitoring System: Descriptive Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed immense stress on global health care systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Armenia, a middle-income country in the Caucasus region, contended with the pandemic and a concurrent war, resulting in significant demand on its already strained health care infrastructure. The COVID@home program was a multi-institution, international collaboration to address critical hospital bed shortages by implementing a home-based oxygen therapy and remote monitoring program. The objective of this study was to describe the program protocol and clinical outcomes of implementing an early discharge program in Armenia through a collaboration of partner institutions, which can inform the future implementation of COVID-19 remote home monitoring programs, particularly in LMICs or low-resource settings. Seven hospitals in Yerevan participated in the COVID@home program. A web app based on OpenMRS was developed to facilitate data capture and care coordination. Patients meeting eligibility criteria were enrolled during hospitalization and monitored daily while on oxygen at home. Program evaluation relied on data extraction from (1) eligibility and enrollment forms, (2) daily monitoring forms, and (3) discharge forms. Over 11 months, 439 patients were screened, and 221 patients were managed and discharged. Around 94% (n=208) of participants safely discontinued oxygen therapy at home, with a median home monitoring duration of 26 (IQR 15-45 days; mean 32.33, SD 25.29) days. Women (median 28.5, mean 35.25 days) had similar length of stay to men (median 26, mean 32.21 days; P=.75). Despite challenges in data collection and entry, the program demonstrated feasibility and safety, with a mortality rate below 1% and low re-admission rate. Opportunities for operational and data quality improvements were identified. This study contributes practical evidence on the implementation and outcomes of a remote monitoring program in Armenia, offering insights into managing patients with COVID-19 in resource-constrained settings. The COVID@home program's success provides a model for remote patient care, potentially alleviating strain on health care resources in LMICs. Policymakers can draw from these findings to inform the development of adaptable health care solutions during public health crises, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches in resource-limited environments.

Social Construction of All-Russian Identity in the North Caucasus: Status and Prospects

Introduction. The relevance of the issues under study, which is due to the need to strengthen the all-Russian identity in the multi-ethnic North Caucasian community in the context of a sharp aggravation of geopolitical contradictions. The purpose of the article is formulated – on the basis of empirical material, to determine the specifics of the manifestation of macrosocial identity in the life of the population of the North Caucasus Federal District and to identify opportunities for further construction of an all-Russian identity in the North Caucasus region. Materials and methods. The section identifies the sources of the empirical base of all subjects of the Russian Federation that form the North Caucasus Federal District, the main of which are regional regulatory legal acts, scientific articles in journals that are freely available in the RSCI, and expert opinion obtained during an expert survey. The use of methodical triangulation (content analysis, discourse analysis and semi-structured expert interviews) made it possible to highlight different aspects of the process of forming a macrosocial identity, making the research picture more voluminous and complete. The heuristic value of the results obtained through this triangulation was manifested in clarifying the structure of the macrosocial identity of the North Caucasian society and fixing the priority of ethnic and partially religious identities. Results. It is substantiated that for studying the problems of constructing an all-Russian identity in the subjects of the federation that are part of the North Caucasus Federal District, the most optimal is the analytical model of identity proposed by M.V. Nazukina and includes three main levels of identity policy implementation on a regional scale: normative, narrative-mythological and symbolic. The current stage of the formation of macrosocial identity in the North Caucasus is characterized at all three levels by a certain priority of ethnic identity, which is enhanced by confessional identity. Discussion and Сonclusion. Based on the results of scientific analysis, it was concluded that a relative balance has developed in the North Caucasus between the all-Russian and ethnic components of macrosocial identity with a partial predominance of ethno-confessional. Analytical material may be of interest to scientific teams studying the problems of humanitarian security in the North Caucasus; structures interested in strengthening ethnopolitical unity in the region on the basis of all-Russian values. The main results and conclusions of the work can be useful for the media, various cultural and educational institutions in organizing and conducting educational work among the population of the region, including youth.

Юрий Жданов – гений места (genius loci): Ростова, Дона и Северного Кавказа

The article highlights the main events of the Rostov period of the life and work of the outstanding organizer of science, socio-political figure and scientist I.A. Zhdanov in the context of the concept of the “genius of the place”. The analysis made it possible to identify, using the example of his biography, common objective and subjective factors, the combination of which makes it possible to transform the individual activity of the genius of the place into positive effects of the city of Rostov-on-Don, the Rostov region, and the North Caucasus region. The key positions of understanding Zhdanov's personality as the genius of the place are considered: regional ideological identification, contribution to the development of the territory, socio-cultural identity, historical reconstruction of the main events. It is shown how the scientific and social activities of Yu.A. Zhdanov contributed to the process of changes in the local Don and North Caucasian communities. An attempt was made to correlate the substantive aspects of the works of the genius of the place and his biography with the basic, fundamental elements of the history and culture of the Don and the North Caucasus. Data collection was carried out through the analysis of scientific periodicals, media materials and publications on social networks, memories of residents and representatives of regional authorities, as well as personal observations of the author.

A gastronomic product specific to the Caucasus region culinary: Khinkali (ხინკალი) & Hinkal

In this research paper, the characteristics of khinkali and hinkal, which are a type of food specific to the Caucasus region, were examined within the context of Turkish and Georgian culinary cultures. The qualitative research method was adopted in the research and the purposive sampling technique was preferred. Face-to-face interviews were held in Artvin and Tbilisi with a total of ten participants, five of whom fulfilled the condition of preparing in Turkish and Georgian cuisines. At the end of the interviews, the data obtained from the participants were interpreted by conducting content analysis. This type of called “hinkal” in Turkish cuisine and “khinkali” in Georgian cuisine. The common features of product consist of “being a traditional product, learning the preparation at an early age, preparing the dough in similar ways, being widely consumed in cold winter months, having 5-6 pieces per portion on average, taking care to prepare it during holidays, serving it to guests, preparing it with family members, and laborious and time-consuming nature of preparation”. The most obvious differences between khinkali and hinkal are that they are folded in a half-moon shape in Turkish cuisine, roasted beef is used as a filling and consumed with pickles, whereas in Georgian cuisine they are folded as a bundle, ground beef is used as the stuffing, and it is consumed with either alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages by sprinkling black pepper on it. In the study, it was concluded that both product types should be considered as gastronomic products. Besides, it was thought that determining common and different aspects by conducting similar studies on Turkish and Georgian cuisines, which have interacted with each other throughout history, would contribute to the relevant literature.

Кавказ в событиях Отечественной войны 1812 года

The article examines the influence of the Caucasian region on the events of the Patriotic War of 1812. Attention is paid to the Moscow fire of September 1812. It destroyed most of the city, and key buildings were damaged – the Kremlin, Moscow University and other important structures. Among the surviving buildings are the house of Count F. V. Rostopchin and the Pozdnyakov Thea-ter. Thanks to the bodyguard (mameluke) Rustam Rosa and other Armenians who remained in the second capital during the occupation period managed to preserve one of the most important places for the peoples of the Caucasus – Armenian Lane. Among the generals who took an active part in the hostilities were representatives of the peoples of the Caucasus. The most famous of them is P. I. Bagration. Besides Bagration, about a dozen generals of Georgian origin took part in the war, as well as the Adygs, Azerbaijanis and other peoples of the Caucasus. The article tells about the ad-venturer Roman Medox and his creating a mounted detachment from the highlanders of the Cau-casus. The central provinces of the Russian Empire sent a considerable number of Polish prisoners to the Caucasus in 1813.

National Conflicts in North Caucasus: Origins and Resolution

This article examines the causes and consequences of national conflicts in the North Caucasus. It addresses issues related to the sources of ethnic conflicts in contemporary times. The significance of the North Caucasus as a bridge connecting north to south and west to east is emphasized, highlighting its immense importance for the Russian Federation. From a geostrategic perspective, this region serves as a gateway to Central Asia while also providing access to Western markets. The paper pays particular attention to events that have transpired since the late 1980s in the Caucasus, where some of the most acute ethnopolitical conflicts and wars have occurred. Six out of eight armed ethnopolitical civil conflicts in the post-Soviet space unfolded in this region. The article raises the issue that, as a result of these events, the Caucasian region has become a battleground for separatist organizations within the post-Soviet context. Armed conflicts have led to numerous human casualties, material losses, economic downturns, and other tragedies. Based on the materials studied, it is concluded that ethnic conflicts are diverse in their manifestations. The conditions for the politicization of ethnic conflicts in the North Caucasus are also explored.

Characteristics of air temperature on the southern and southeastern slopes of the Greater Caucasus in the modern period

In the paper, the characteristics of air temperature in the south part of the Greater Caucasus region and the effects of regional climate changes on this area in the modern period were studied. In the research, the air temperature observation data of 8 hydrometeorological stations operating in the region for the years 1961-2022 were used, and the modern classification of the average monthly, seasonal, annual and altitude time-space distributions of temperature was given.Based on the data of hydrometeorological stations in the south and southeast piedmonts of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, an electronic map was prepared for the distribution of average annual air temperature indicators on the territory, and for determining the indicators of areas without data. DEM (Digital Elevation Model) files obtained fromthe decoding of satellite images (satellite data) were used in the prepared map. The research shows that July and August are the hottest months when the temperature is 22.80C, while January is the coldest by temperature about 0.50C in this region. In this part of the Greater Caucasus province, in the cold months of the year, the average monthly temperature is indicating below 00C in the area located above the moderately mountainous part of the region. The dynamics of the average indicators of temperature of the multi-year period (1961-2022) are expressed by a positive trend. The average annual temperature distribution map of the territory shows that the air temperature is 15.00C in the low mountainous part of the region, while it decreases upwards and, according to the adiabatic law, equals 00C at altitudes above 3500 m. According to the climate studies conducted in the region, compared to the years 1981-2010, it was found that there was a temperature increase of 1.20C in the mountainous region in 2011-2022. Also, a comparative analysis of 10-year averages of air temperature trends, using the Holt- Winters model, shows that temperatures in 2100 are expected to increase by 3.00C compared to 2030. In the region, climate changes that worsen every year lead to water scarcity, desertification, drought, etc. and can expand the area of recurrence of environmental crises and destructive natural events. This research can be used in future climate change mitigation , climate atlases, infrastructure, agricultural and industrial projects in the region.

Does environmental degradation matter for healthcare expenditure and health outcomes? Evidence from the Caucasus region and Russia (2000–2020)

Does environmental degradation matter for healthcare expenditure and health outcomes? Evidence from the Caucasus region and Russia (2000–2020)

The Republic of South Ossetia in the Context of Regional Security Threats

The article analyzes the security problems in the South Caucasus. The emphasis is placed on the key security threats to the Republic of South Ossetia, which is actually in a state of latent conflict with Georgia. The article uses the method of situational analysis (sitanalysis), which involves considering the problem at the applied level, identifying all the factors that influence the formation of the situation. The author considers that the most important part of the situational analysis is the development of practical recommendations in order to implement a favorable forecast and, if possible, avoid an unfavorable course of events.According to the author’s main conclusions, the Republic of South Ossetia is currently facing a number of serious external threats to its national security in the South Caucasus. The existing threats, challenges and risks for South Ossetia in the South Caucasus region tend to increase, both in local and regional variants. According to the author, efforts should continue to create a sustainable security architecture in the South Caucasus in order to prevent any violent scenarios for resolving existing contradictions and achieving sustainable peace and stability in the region.

Technologies of the Integrated Development of Hydrogeothermal Resources of the North Caucasian Region

This paper focuses on the technologies of the integrated development of high-parametric geothermal brines with steam release. They differ from each other depending on initial parameters. Such way of brine utilization will make it possible to transform thermal energy to electrical power along with significant increasing its salinity that contributes to chemical components extraction. The opportunity is considered of this technology application in the Tarumovka geothermal field with electric power generation in steam-turbine and binary power plants, and consequent obtaining valuable mineral components. The geothermal and biogas technologies are given proposing integrated utilization of thermal water for various applications. Such systems make it possible to use resource potential of geothermal well and biomass that will result in improvement of economic and environmental situation in the North Caucasus region.

What is concealed under the name Lochmaea crataegi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)?

Until now, Lochmaea crataegi (Forster, 1771) was considered a transpalaearctic species, while the closely related species L. machulkai Roubal, 1926 was known only from the Caucasus and adjacent regions. The present study establishes that L. crataegi is found exclusively in Western, Central, and Southern Europe, while L. machulkai is distributed in Crimea, the central and southern regions of European Russia, the Caucasus, northern Iran, eastern Turkey, and western Middle Asia. A new species, L. sergeevi sp. nov. , is described from Asian Russia, specifically from the Urals to the Far East. The males of L. sergeevi sp. nov. differ from those of L. crataegi and L. machulkai in the aedeagus, which is much wider than that of L. crataegi , with the maximum width closer located to the apex than in L. machulkai (in dorsal view), and significantly less curved than in both compared species (in lateral view), and in the metatibia which is curved near the mid-length, whereas it is curved closer to the base in both of the compared species. The diagnostic characters of the L. crataegi species–group, as well as those of L. crataegi and L. machulkai , are revised. Color photographs of the diagnostic characters and a distribution map of all species are provided.

Strategic prospects for using international experience of foreign investment in Armenia

The article analyzes the strategic prospects for creating stable conditions for attracting additional volumes of foreign investment in the Armenian economy, which is due to the lack of own funds for sustainable social and economic development. The relevance of issues related to the role and place of foreign investment in Armenia, occurring due to the globalization of the world and regional economy, creating or limiting conditions for the movement of capital, has increased sharply in light of the sharp intensification of the policy of attracting foreign investment in the South Caucasus region. The practical experience of the transition period of the market economy of Armenia is summarized, as the country became more dependent on the level of regional and global integration. At this time, flows of foreign capital emerged not only in the form of government borrowings, but also in the form of diaspora transfers, assistance from international organizations, and the creation of joint ventures with Armenian entrepreneurs. Restrictions on obtaining high technologies, both in the form of goods and technical documentation, and in the form of direct investment, were gradually lifted.

New records of centipedes (Myriapoda: Chilopoda) in the fauna of Georgia, South Caucasus

Georgia's rich biodiversity, as a key part of the Caucasus hotspot, makes it an ideal destination for scientific research. Nevertheless, knowledge about the species diversity of different animal groups in this area remains limited. In this article we provide information on the nine centipede species (Henia brevis (Silvestri, 1896), H. hirsuta Verhoeff, 1928, H. taurica (Sseliwanoff, 1884), Strigamia caucasia (Verhoeff, 1938), S. pusilla (Sseliwanoff, 1884), Harpolithobius spinipes Folkmanová, 1958, Lithobius antipai Matic, 1969, L. foviceps Muralevitch, 1926, and L. micropodus (Matic, 1980)) newly recorded in Georgia. Three of these species (H. brevis, H. hirsuta, and L. micropodus) are also new records for the Caucasus region. Data on their distribution, maps of the localities, and photos of the specimens studied are also given.

Muslims of Central Asia in Siberia in the Context of State‑Confessional Policy in the second half of the 19th – early 20th centuries

The Muslim population of Siberia represented an ethnically heterogeneous community, which included Tatars, as well as immigrants from Central and Central Asia, the Caucasus and other regions. Such polyethnicity and proximity to the Asian region, as one of the centers of Muslim culture, contributed to building contacts between Muslims of Siberia and Central Asia. Expansion of the territorial borders of the Russian Empire in the second half of the 19th century. and the government’s special interest in Central Asia has influenced the development of relations between the Muslim population of the two neighboring regions. The purpose of this study was to identify the main areas of interaction between the Muslim population of Siberia and Central Asia in the second half of the 19th – early 20th century, as well as to estimate the role of the state in regulating this process. Based on archival material, the author found that one of the areas of interaction of the Muslim population was organizing spiritual life. Despite the fact that the government, in an effort to extend its influence to the Asian region, provided support to the Muslim population in the second half of the 19th century, the same building codes were applied to the construction of religious buildings for Bukharans, as for all other Muslims. The closest contacts between the Muslims of Siberia and the Bukharians were built within the framework of pilgrimage trips, since often the way to Mecca for them lay through the territories of Central Asia. In addition, there were holy places in the region, which the Muslims of Siberia aspired to. This fact was of particular concern to the Government. The reforms initiated in the country aimed at limitation of the rights of the Muslim population have reduced the migration flow from the Asian region to Siberia. The government paid special attention to the missionary activities of the Russian Orthodox Church as a tool for involving Muslims of Siberia and Central Asia in the socio-cultural space of the empire.