Independent States Research Articles

The Right to Health Protection in the Constitutions of the Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States: A Comparative Legal Study

Introduction: the paper discusses the current problems of constitutional law concerning the provisions of the basic law of the CIS countries on health protection. The advantages and disadvantages of various formulations of the right to health protection are analyzed, and the question of its parties is raised. The purpose of the study is to consider the possibility of formulating a universal model of the right to health protection through the analysis of existing rights in the CIS countries. Methods: as the main one, the comparative legal method of scientific research is used to analyze and compare the constitutional provisions of the CIS countries. Results: based on the conducted research, the opinion on the possibility of identifying a universal model of the right to health protection is substantiated. The author’s classification of the right to medical care is given depending on the conditions of its provision. Conclusions: despite the fundamental similarity of the provisions of the constitutions of the CIS countries, they differ in a number of parameters: parties, the completeness of powers, and the identification of additional rights. It is noted that the right to health protection is most fully represented in the Constitution of this country. However, the existing wording could be supplemented with a guarantee of medical insurance and an indication of qualified medical care.

Цветосимволика в блазонировании национальной геральдики (лингвокультурные аспекты)

The purpose of the article is to study the semantics and role of color symbols in the verbal description of national heraldry, and its relevance is due to the current trend towards an increase in the number of independent states with their own national symbols. The objectives of the research include determining the semiotic specificity of the color symbol, establishing the object prototypes motivating this symbol and identifying new concepts and ideals symbolized in modern national heraldry with the help of color. The study was carried out on the material of the state emblems of countries united by a common language of blazoning, using the technique of analyzing color images. It has been established that in color symbolism there are two types of semiotic units: symbols in which the image refers to some natural standard of color that motivates color, and symbols in which the connection between the expression and the content planes of the semiotic formation turns out to be conventional and conditioned exclusively by cultural tradition. In most cases, the appearance in national heraldry of a particular color or shade of the latter is determined by the taste preferences of the compiler of the coat of arms, but sometimes the symbolic meaning of the color in the blazon is explicitly stated. The content plane of color symbols, which receive an explicit interpretation in state heraldry, is represented both by specific objects, which act here as prototypes motivating the symbol, and by concepts of one or another level of abstraction, and the connection of these concepts with color is not figuratively motivated in any way and is determined exclusively by cultural traditions. The medieval list of secular and Christian virtues, to which the main heraldic colors refer, is supplemented by modern concepts and ideals in the state heraldry of today. At the same time, the black color as a symbol of sadness and mourning does not appear in state heraldry, and there is no purple color in the studied national heraldry. The results of the study lead to the conclusion that the color symbolism reflects the national, cultural and linguistic specificity of the countries that own the state emblem.

Вплив соціал-демократів на формування та розвиток української політико-правової думки в Галичині у період проголошення та занепаду ЗУНР (1918-1923 рр.)

This article is devoted to the analysis of the influence of the Ukrainian Social Democratic Party (USDP) on the formation and development of political and legal opinion in Galicia during the period of the proclamation and decline of the ZUNR (1918-1923). The role and place of iconic Ukrainian social democrats in the socio-political life of the region and the peculiarities of the evolution of the USDP to the political course of the ZUNR, the Polish state through the prism of the short period of Ukrainian power and the specifics of the occupation regime are highlighted. It was found that during the period under study, the development of Ukrainian political and legal thought was influenced by tectonic social and political events: the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy; Ukrainian revolutions in Galicia and Trans-Dnieper Ukraine; the proclamation of the West Ukrainian People's Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic; Zluka ZUNR and UNR; occupation of Galicia by Poland; assimilation policy of the Polish government; the struggle of civil society and legal political forces for the restoration of Ukrainian national statehood. It is emphasized that the USDP was directly related to these historical processes, because from the moment of its creation, it was one of the first legal parties of Austria-Hungary to proclaim the idea of the right of the Ukrainian people to state and political independence and made efforts to implement the programmatic position of the party in practice by forming the legal consciousness of Ukrainians Galicia Combining the national idea with Marxism, the social democrats sought to achieve the national and social liberation of the Ukrainian people and build an independent Ukrainian socialist state. It is emphasized that the idea of a unified and cathedral Ukraine became the core during the national liberation struggle of 1917-1923.

CIS Cross-Border Libraries: Updating the Concept Paper to Strengthen Co-Operation

The experience of the Russian State Library in cooperation with the libraries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member states in developing a document regulating cross-border co-operation is presented. It shows the stages of updating the “Concept of Information and Library Space Formation on the Basis of Cross-border Libraries of the CIS Member States” (2009) within the framework of the long-term interstate project of the Eurasia Library Assembly on creation of the normative and conceptual basis of interlibrary cooperation in the CIS. The “Concept...” is harmonised with the universally recognised principles and norms of international law. It reflects the process of inclusion of libraries of border regions of CIS member states in co-operation with libraries of neighbouring countries. Specialists of CIS libraries took an active part in the development of the document. The Concept of Development of Library and Information Space on the Basis of Cross-Border Libraries of CIS Member States (2023) clarifies the purpose and some basic concepts related to the activities of libraries in cross-border cooperation. The definition of “library and information space on the basis of cross-border libraries of the CIS member states” was developed, which is considered as a system of interacting subjects — libraries, library networks, library associations, library staff. The aim of library and information space development is to provide conditions for strengthening interregional and cross-border co-operation. Libraries create and promote various information resources, organise library and information services for the multinational population of border areas to enhance intercultural and professional communication. In the document 2023 the possibilities of subjects of interlibrary cooperation are expanded at the expense of interregional cooperation. The following are defined as subjects of the library and information space: publicly accessible border libraries of the CIS member states, central universal libraries of the border regions, national libraries of the CIS member states. The updated “Concept...” shows the tasks and principles of development, mechanisms and expected results of its implementation. The role of the CIS coordinating bodies in the formation of legislative and regulatory framework for the libraries of the CIS member states is important. Prospects for improving this base lie in the regulation of interregional and cross-border co-operation. To strengthen cooperation it is necessary to reveal the intercultural potential of the CIS member states, to provide scientific and methodological support to cross-border libraries, etc.

CIS Cross-Border Libraries: Updating the Concept Paper to Strengthen Co-Operation

The experience of the Russian State Library in cooperation with the libraries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member states in developing a document regulating cross-border co-operation is presented. It shows the stages of updating the “Concept of Information and Library Space Formation on the Basis of Cross-border Libraries of the CIS Member States” (2009) within the framework of the long-term interstate project of the Eurasia Library Assembly on creation of the normative and conceptual basis of interlibrary cooperation in the CIS. The “Concept...” is harmonised with the universally recognised principles and norms of international law. It reflects the process of inclusion of libraries of border regions of CIS member states in co-operation with libraries of neighbouring countries. Specialists of CIS libraries took an active part in the development of the document. The Concept of Development of Library and Information Space on the Basis of Cross-Border Libraries of CIS Member States (2023) clarifies the purpose and some basic concepts related to the activities of libraries in cross-border cooperation. The definition of “library and information space on the basis of cross-border libraries of the CIS member states” was developed, which is considered as a system of interacting subjects — libraries, library networks, library associations, library staff. The aim of library and information space development is to provide conditions for strengthening interregional and cross-border co-operation. Libraries create and promote various information resources, organise library and information services for the multinational population of border areas to enhance intercultural and professional communication. In the document 2023 the possibilities of subjects of interlibrary cooperation are expanded at the expense of interregional cooperation. The following are defined as subjects of the library and information space: publicly accessible border libraries of the CIS member states, central universal libraries of the border regions, national libraries of the CIS member states. The updated “Concept...” shows the tasks and principles of development, mechanisms and expected results of its implementation. The role of the CIS coordinating bodies in the formation of legislative and regulatory framework for the libraries of the CIS member states is important. Prospects for improving this base lie in the regulation of interregional and cross-border co-operation. To strengthen cooperation it is necessary to reveal the intercultural potential of the CIS member states, to provide scientific and methodological support to cross-border libraries, etc.

The Evolution of Government Intervention in the Mediterranean Media System: Spain, France, and Portugal

Based on the comparative analysis of the three Western media system models distinguished by Daniel Hallin and Paolo Mancini (2004), this article revisits their thesis of a tendency towards the convergence of the Mediterranean model and the Liberal model—in terms of the weakening of links between media institutions and the political sphere—two decades after it was first posited. By studying the degree and nature of state intervention in the media systems of Spain, France, and Portugal in the 21st century, the aim is to ascertain whether, within a context of growing political polarisation and shrinking journalistic industry income, the distinctive characteristics of the role of the state in the Mediterranean model remain the same or have changed—and in what sense. The contextualised analysis of Spanish, French, and Portuguese policies relating to public service media, independent audiovisual media regulatory bodies, media subsidies, and state advertising on the one hand allows us to question whether state intervention in Mediterranean media systems has weakened, thereby reaffirming the thesis of the importance of nation-states in media governance and the relevance of the comparative study of national media systems in the era of digital globalisation. And, on the other hand, it enables continuities, discontinuities, and differences between the three countries to be identified in relation to the logic of clientelism that Hallin and Mancini observed in their media policies in 2004, as well as some initial elements for their interpretation to be noted.

Optimal individual and collective measurements for nonorthogonal quantum key distribution signals

We consider how the theory of optimal quantum measurements determines the maximum information available to the receiving party of a quantum key distribution (QKD) system employing linearly independent but nonorthogonal quantum states. Such a setting is characteristic of several practical QKD protocols. Due to nonorthogonality, the receiver is not able to discriminate unambiguously between the signals. To understand the fundamental limits that this imposes, the quantity of interest is the maximum mutual information between the transmitter (Alice) and the receiver, whether legitimate (Bob) or an eavesdropper (Eve). To find the optimal measurement—taken individually or collectively—we use a framework based on operator algebra and general results derived from singular-value decomposition, achieving optimal solutions for von Neumann measurements and positive operator-valued measures (POVMs). The formal proof and quantitative analysis elaborated for two signals allow us to conclude that optimal von Neumann measurements are uniquely defined and provide a higher information gain compared to POVMs. Interestingly, collective measurements not only do not provide additional information gain with respect to individual ones but also suffer from a gain reduction in the case of POVMs. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Ermənistanın Azərbaycana qarşı ərazi iddiaları və Qarabağ məsələsi regional siyasi proseslərdə (1918-ci il iyun-oktyabr)

This article deals with the territorial claims of Armenia against Azerbaijan and the diplomatic struggle among related parties after the establishment of independent states in the South Caucasus. Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations at the Istanbul conference on Armenia's territorial claims, and at the same time, details of the negotiations between the diplomatic representatives of the two countries in Tbilisi have been illustrated according to the documents of the archives of Azerbaijan and Turkey and materials from the Istanbul press in 1918. The scale of the territorial claims of Armenia and the arguments referenced by Armenians have been identified. Also, contrary arguments made by the Azerbaijani side against these allegations have been interpreted. Archival documents, notes, and statements of the parties presented on the problem were brought into scientific circulation for the first time. It was concluded that the total territory of Armenia, whose independence was declared on May 30, 1918, was only 9000 km2. This territory was also given to Armenia under a number of conditions. After the declaration of independence, Armenia made territorial claims against all states with which it has a territorial border. The total volume of Armenia's territorial claims is 43500 km2, of which 17600 km2 is directed against Turkey, 16500 km2 against Azerbaijan, and 9400 km2 against Georgia. Armenia referred to racial-national principles, Azerbaijan to ethnic-religious and geographical principles, and Georgia to historical principles to resolve disputed territorial-border issues between South Caucasus republics. The position and behavior of Armenia did not allow to resolve the disputed territorial and border issues between the South Caucasus republics.

Attitudes of Labor Migrants from Central Asia to International Integration Organizations in the Post-Soviet Space

The article presents the results of a sociological empirical study that was conducted from May to August in 2023. Its purpose was to study the attitudes of labor migrants in Russia towards various international integration processes in the post-Soviet space. The objects of the study were workers from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, working in Moscow and the Moscow region. The choice of these countries is not accidental, as they are the main migration donors to the Russian Federation in Central Asia. The uniqueness of the research results lies in the fact that despite the certain “popularity” of such an empirical object as “labor migrants.” The analyzed subject has not yet been sufficiently developed theoretically and empirically. Particular attention is paid to the political preferences and migration attitudes of labor migrants. The issue of awareness of foreign workers of the activities of international integration and military-political associations, such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), European Union (EU), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and also the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is examined. The paper also presents the respondents’ assessment of the role of these associations in the development of international processes. Separately, the article examines the relationship between Russia and migrant-sending countries. Based on the results of the study, the authors conclude that respondents have a positive attitude towards integration associations in which Russia plays a key role. Moreover, the socio-political attitudes of foreign workers are characterized by a high degree of loyalty to the foreign policy of the Russian Federation. Migrants overwhelmingly support international cooperation between their countries and Russia and share the foreign policy position of the Russian Federation. In conclusion, labor migrants from Central Asia can be considered as a resource and capital of the influence of Russian “soft power.”

UKRAINIAN IDENTITY IN THE CONTEXT OF RUSSIA'S HYBRID WAR AGAINST UKRAINE. KHERSON

The article is devoted to the study of the preservation of Ukrainian identity in the context of Russia's hybrid war against Ukraine. The study of this topic is extremely relevant to us, especially in times of war. After all, the preservation of national heritage plays a huge role in establishing Ukraine as a free, independent state. Cultural heritage is one of the main factors in the formation of Ukrainian identity and the revival of the spirituality of the Ukrainian people. Under occupation, the threat of losing cultural identity is growing. Therefore, one of the most relevant areas of research is the study of the experience of preserving national consciousness under occupation. One such example is the liberated Kherson. It was during the occupation that Kherson residents fought for their cultural identity. Thanks to modern digital technologies, they resisted Russian culture and the narratives spread by Russia so powerfully. This study examines a narrowly focused example of Ukrainians preserving their national identity under occupation, using Kherson as a case study. The aim of this article is to identify the markers of Ukrainian identity and trace them in the conditions of war.

Heterogeneity of State Stroke Center Certification and Designation Processes.

Stroke centers are critical for the timely diagnosis and treatment of acute stroke and have been associated with improved treatment and outcomes; however, variability exists in the definitions and processes used to certify and designate these centers. Our study categorizes state stroke center certification and designation processes and provides examples of state processes across the United States, specifically in states with independent designation processes that do not rely on national certification. In this cross-sectional study from September 2022 to April 2023, we used peer-reviewed literature, primary source documents from states, and communication with state officials in all 50 states to capture each state's process for stroke center certification and designation. We categorized this information and outlined examples of processes in each category. Our cross-sectional study of state-level stroke center certification and designation processes across states reveals significant heterogeneity in the terminology used to describe state processes and the processes themselves. We identify 3 main categories of state processes: No State Certification or Designation Process (category A; n=12), State Designation Reliant on National Certification Only (category B; n=24), and State Has Option for Self-Certification or Independent Designation (category C; n=14). Furthermore, we describe 3 subcategories of self-certification or independent state designation processes: State Relies on Self-Certification or Independent Designation for Acute Stroke Ready Hospital or Equivalent (category C1; n=3), State Has Hybrid Model for Acute Stroke Ready Hospital or Equivalent (category C2; n=5), and State Has Hybrid Model for Primary Stroke Center and Above (category C3; n=6). Our study found significant heterogeneity in state-level processes. A better understanding of how these differences may impact the rigor of each process and clinical performance of stroke centers is worthy of further investigation.

Political Mentality and Its Transformation (In the Case of Post–Communist Uzbekistan)

The article analyzes the transformational processes under the influence of universal democratic values (human rights and freedoms, pluralism, justice, democracy, democratic political governance) in the political mentality of ethnic Uzbeks, who make up the majority of the population, on the example of Uzbekistan, one of the post–communist young independent states of Central Asia. Adoption of democratic laws is not enough for the political transformation of society. The democratic political transformation in the spiritual life of the society cannot be achieved without changing the communist values that have been forcefully instilled in the human mind by the communist political regime for 70 years, without completely removing them from the life of the person and the society. Today, the post–Soviet Uzbek society is undergoing a complex and difficult process of spiritual transformation.

Informal Concentration of Powers in Illiberal Constitutionalism: The Case of Hungary

Classic and new concepts of the separation of powers doctrine focus on the control of central political power. Institutional checks and balances are classic legal instruments of this control, especially the activity of independent state organs. In those countries where the political system is dominated by a populist government, the institutional checks and balances and independent institutions are under constant pressure. In a consolidated political system that has already departed from liberal constitutionalism and where constitutional institutions do function only in a formal sense (illiberal constitutionalism), institutional checks and balances lose their significance. However, in addition to the exercise of powers by independent branches of government, other legal institutions or actions can also have a significant impact on relations between branches of government, even informally. Therefore, the system of checks and balances can be described as a multi-layered structure with formal (classical) and informal elements. The article analyses in detail, how the use of informal constitutional amendments and national referendums—as additional institutions belonging to the complex system of separation of powers—instead of controlling the central political power, has contributed to the informal concentration of government power in Hungary in recent years.

Hydraulic fracturing simulation of concrete dam integrating intelligent crack detection and refined modeling methods

Concrete dams are prone to cracks during construction and operation process. Cracks on the upstream surface may induce the risk of hydraulic fracturing, thereby significantly reducing the safety of dam structure. Nevertheless, image processing technology, non-destructive testing technology and structural performance analysis technology with cracks are in a relatively independent state, leading to difficulties in analysis of actual cracks combined with numerical simulations. This paper proposes a novel approach for combination of intelligent identification technology and refined finite element method (FEM) for modeling and simulating the hydraulic fracturing resistance of the actual crack in concrete dams. With image processing technology and non-destructive testing technology, direction and depth of actual cracks are identified and extracted, then the 3D geometric model of actual cracks is generated. The refined model with the identified actual crack is constructed by the node projection strategy. This approach is used to assess the hydraulic fracturing resistance of the concrete dam with actual cracks in the alpine region. The results demonstrate that the critical crack depth of hydraulic fracturing is 12.93 m, and the opening width is 1.01 mm, which is 2.53 times the limit value for Class D cracks in the code (DL/T5251–2010). The refined modelling method based on actual crack detected on site can accurately evaluate the crack state compared to the conservative code.

АНАЛИЗ ИЗМЕНЕНИЙ ТРУДОВОЙ МИ-ГРАЦИИ В РФ ИЗ СТРАН СНГ ЗА ПЕРИОД С 2020 ПО 2023 ГОДЫ

This article reflects statistical data on the change in the volume of external labor mi-gration of the Russian Federation due to the arrival of labor migrants from the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (hereinafter - the CIS) in the period from the beginning of 2020 to the 1st half of 2023. Based on the data, the general trends of the identified changes are analyzed, the main factors influencing the process of labor mi-gration are highlighted.

استفتاء استقلال إقلیم کوردستان - العراق في 2017: الأسباب والنتائج

The research boils down to studying the conditions that arose as n a result of the Kurdistan Region's decision to hold the referendum. The Kurdish people demanded their rights from the beginning of their annexation to Iraq until the holding of the referendum in 2017, and with the end of the danger of ISIS in Iraq, the Kurds’ demand for an independent state became increasing despite the internal political differences and the economic difficulties that the region suffers from, as their demand to hold the referendum is a result of suffering from injustice, persecution and constitutional violations caused to them by the Iraqi government, especially the failure to implement Article 140 of the Constitution. However, holding the referendum did not lead to independence, and the Kurdish people did not obtain their legitimate demands. Rather, it led to a regression of the role and status of the region and the deterioration of their relations at the internal and external levels, especially internally, which reached the level of resorting to the military operation to resolve issues and reject the claim for independence. This coincided with the international community's lack of action towards this Kurdish demand. All those relations that existed between the Kurdistan Region and the outside world since its establishment have reached a complex level after the referendum.

Employment, labor productivity and environmental sustainability: Firm‐level evidence from transition economies

AbstractThis article investigates the impact of investment in environmentally sustainable practices on employment and labor productivity growth in transition economies. It explores the influence of labor skill composition and geographical variations on sustainability dynamics. Utilizing data from the World Bank's Enterprise Survey 2019 across 24 transition economies, an environmental sustainability index is constructed using Principal Components Analysis. To address endogeneity concerns, a combination of fixed effects and instrumental variables is employed. The findings highlight the significance of environmental sustainability for both employment and labor productivity growth. However, the observed relationships diminish in significance when comprehensively addressing endogeneity, suggesting a more nuanced and time‐dependent connection between environmentally sustainable practices and job growth. Notably, high‐skill firms experience a deceleration in job creation following sustainability investments, while low‐skill firms benefit from improved labor productivity. Geographically, Central Europe exhibits more pronounced impacts on labor productivity, potentially attributed to higher levels of development and sustainability awareness compared to Southeast Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Selected aspects of monuments protection in Poland in the inter war period

The article concerns research on the history of the conservation of architectural monuments in Poland in the interwar period. A comparison of the first post-independence resolutions covering the protection of Polish monuments shows that the content of the provisions is based on the findings and assumptions developed while the partitions were still in progress. Undoubtedly, the work of societies and conservationist groups, for the purpose of popularizing knowledge about historical objects and making the public aware of the need to undertake conservation activities, became the foundation for the organization of future conservation services.
 The article presents an analysis of the process of forming Polish conservation structures in the independent state and presents the methods of work of district conservators adopted at that time. This paper pays attention to the attitude of the clergy, scientific circles and the general public to the formed concept of conservation. It should be emphasized that many of the organizational assumptions and legal regulations of the time have influenced the practice and methods of contemporary conservators today.

Urgensi Pembentukan Karakter Cinta Tanah Air melalui Pendidikan Pancasila

The attitude of love for the motherland is one of the contents of the noble values ​​of Pancasila which became the basis for the establishment of the independent nation and state of Indonesia. One of the positive values ​​that need to be instilled in students through the learning process as the next generation of the nation is the character of loving the motherland. Seeing the current reality, many young people are starting to lose their love for their homeland along with the era of globalization and modernization. This study aims to examine the role of Pancasila education in the formation of the character of loving the homeland by using a qualitative descriptive method. The importance of Pancasila education in creating young people as pillars of the nation has a very important role. Pancasila character education is not only limited to answering actual problems and being used as an educational advertising commodity, but there are future achievements that must be achieved, namely building a sovereign, independent and superior nation based on a sense of love for the motherland as a strong roots in implementation.

크로아티아 ‘언어 순수주의’에 나타나는 인종적 우스타샤 언어 이데올로기

Croatian is the common language of the Republic of Croatia, the national language representing the Croatian people, and the core national symbol. After independence in 1991, Croatia sets priorities to complete the identity of pure Croatian people, which is different from Serbian, and to recreate the Croatian language for this purpose. The core of Croatian language policy is generally described as ‘Croatian purism’. Croatian purism, led by only fighting spirit, is, in principle, to remove all elements that undermine Croatian purity. The ideology that extremely emphasized the purity of the Croatian people in Croatian history comes from Ustasia. The Croatian Independent State (Nezavista Država Hrvatska: NDH), which was a practical aspect of Ustasia, implements ‘language purism’ according to the principle of ‘blood and language’. The situation and development method of the two-lingual purism are very different, but in ‘Croatian purism’ unique to fighting spirit, some aspects of NDH's ‘blood and language’ ideology appear. This study studies NDH's linguistic purism based on Ustasia’s racial ideology and ‘Croatian purism’ based on the romantic nationalism of ‘one language = one territory’ from an ethnolingustic perspective.