RF President Research Articles

Уникальность конституционной реформы 2020 года и ее последствия для будущего России

The relevance of the study is caused by the upcoming election of the RF President in 2024 in the context of continuing sanctions against Russia. The author analyzed, summarized, and grouped critical and analytical conclusions available in the scientific literature concerning the content of the constitutional reform of 2020 and its possible consequences. The novelty is in the systematization of numerous views on the significance of the constitutional reform of 2020 and the author’s forecast of the impact of this reform on the nature of the presidential election in 2024 and the further constitutional development of Russia. The paper aims at the analysis of the unique features of the constitutional reform of 2020. The author made the following conclusions: 1) the reform is unique in terms of legitimation methods, content, structure, and consequences; 2) the reason for the unexpected announcement of the constitutional reform is the need to stabilize power and the constitutional order by providing the current RF President with the opportunity to run for the next presidential election; 3) chapters 1 and 2 of the Constitution are not formally affected by the reform, while the amendments to chapters 3–8 actually affect the content of the first two chapters; 4) the contradictions arisen in the text of the Constitution exclude its new full-scale reform; 5) the powers of the President have been strengthened against the background of the seeming strengthening of the Parliament and the Constitutional Court; 6) a unique three-stage way of legitimizing amendments to the Constitution; 7) the coincidence of the powers of the State Council and the President in terms of determining the main directions of the state policy is a replacement solution for the political future of the current President of the Russian Federation. Despite criticism of the reform, the author concludes that the nature of the Constitution is the sovereign affair of the Russian people, who actually legalized the reform in the form of a plebiscite on the confidence of V.V. Putin. It is concluded that a new Russian constitution will soon be adopted, and the possibility of its adoption simultaneously with the presidential election campaign is not ruled out.

Study of physicochemical properties of high-quality sinter from factory No. 5 of PJSC MMK during reduction in a hydrogen medium

The research on the reduction of iron ore materials with a particle size of 12–15 mm by hydrogen (flow rate 20 l/h) under a load of 60 kPa during isothermal holding at temperatures of 500, 700 and 1050 °C was carried out in the laboratory of the chair for Metallurgy and Chemical Technologies of the FSBEI HE Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University. At a temperature of 1050 ºC, the reduction of the factory No. 5 sinter to a reduction degree of 25% proceeded at a rate of 0.0476% O2/min. At the end of reduction, the shrinkage of the sinter sample was 6.1% of the layer height, which provided a gas pressure drop of 0.27 kPa. The rate of recovery of the sinter from plant No. 5 compared to the rate of reduction of the mixture of sinter from plant No. 5 with pellets from SSGPO or Mikhailovsky MPP in equal proportions is higher on average by 5.1% (rel.) and 7.4% (rel.) at temperatures and degrees recovery 700 ºC and 15%, 1050 ºC and 25%, respectively. The shrinkage of the agglomerate compared to that of the pellets with the same reduction parameters was 1.3 and 2 times smaller, respectively. At a temperature of 1050 ºC and a material reduction ratio of 25%, the gas pressure drop in the sinter bed from Factory No. 5 was 3.7% lower than the gas pressure drop passing through the mixture of sinter with pellets from both manufacturers. The reduction rate of the mixture of sinter from plant No. 5 with SSGPO pellets, compared to the mixture of sinter from plant No. 5 with pellets from the Mikhailovsky MPP, is on average 7.6% (rel.) higher at a reduction temperature of 700–1050 ºC and a reduction degree of 15–25 %.The paper was prepared under support of the grant of RF President № MD-1064.2022.4.

Interethnic Relations: Organizational and Forensic Aspects of Modern Criminal Policy

The authors analyze legal regulation of interethnic relations in the sphere of criminal law and the problems of implementing legal norms in modern law enforcement activities. It is noted that the condition of interethnic relations in a multinational country determines a substantial part of the migration policy and has a great influence on the economic, political and criminogenic situation. The authors describe the modern condition of interethnic relations in the Russian Federation, trace the historical connection with the national question in the Russian Empire and the USSR, analyze the State Strategy of National Policy of the Russian Federation till 2025 approved by the Decree of the RF President of December 19, 2012 № 1666. It is shown that Russian legal regulation of interethnic relations lacks a unified framework of concepts and categories; for example, there are no clear boundaries between the concepts «ethnic», «national», «racial» and their derived categories. All of them are used in a chaotic manner with different mutual correlations. The article describes the contents of the compared concepts, determines their converging and differentiating features. The fundamental difference in the understanding of the concept of «national» in Russian and foreign legislation and law enforcement is stressed. The authors prove the necessity to unify terminology, bring examples from Russian court practice and the position of the European Court of Human Rights, establish the criminalistic significance of ethnic information. It is suggested that the specific framework of concepts and categories should be the basis for the development of practical instruments for using ethnic information about the participants of a crime event — a mechanism of practical implementation of the legal regulation of interethnic relations, and for determinig its goals, tasks, and key directions of work. Besides, the authors examine modern social interethnic situation in the area of identifying, investigating and detecting crimes.

Study of structure of high-strength cold-resistant steel after quenching and tempering

The conditions of heat treatment, providing achievement of high strength characteristics (σ0,2 ≥ 600 N/mm2) in combination with low-temperature impact strength (KCV−60 ≥ 50 J/cm2) and plasticity (δ5 ≥ 17 %), were determined for the new weldable sparingly alloyed steel 20G2SMRA. Steel structure was formed after hot rolling, quenching from the temperature 860 °С and consequent high tempering at the temperature 600 °С (which determined the obtained complex of steel properties) and then was examined via the method of scanning electronic microscopy. The results of energy-dispersion analysis of carbide particles which were extracted during tempering of quenched steel are presented. It is shown that the required level of strength and cold resistance is provided due to forming of mainly finedispersed lath martensite (with α-phase lath width 0.2–0.7 μm) and with small part of residual austenite (about 1 %), as well as dislocation high-temperature martensite. Sub-grain α-phase structure (with size of single sub-grains 0.1–0.7 μm) and cementite-type of carbide particles are formed during tempering. The research was carried out under financial support of the RF Ministry of Education and Science within execution of the RF President’s grant (Agreement No. 075-15-2020-205/1 dated 29.03.2021 (int. No. MK-1979.2020.8/1)).Electron microscope examination of foils for clearance were conducted within the boundaries of the State assignment for the theme “Structure”, State reg. No. АААА-А18-118020190116-6.

Effect of genetic polymorphisms and haplotypes on the efficacy and safety of postoperative analgesia with ketoprofen in patients with coronary artery disease after cardiac surgery

Abstract Background Most cardiac surgeries are associated with post-sternotomy pain syndrome. Pain causes elevation of blood pressure, heart rate and may be associated with hemodynamic instability, respiratory infections, and other postoperative complications. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most commonly used analgesics in cardiac surgery. The majority of NSAIDs are metabolized by cytochrome P-450. The mechanism of action of NSAIDs is associated with blocking of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase (PTGS). Individual variabilities and gene polymorphisms may affect ketoprofen exposure, efficacy and safety. Purpose Evaluation of the influence of CYP2C9 - CYP2D6 and PTGS-2 rs20417 – PTGS-1 rs12353214 haplotypes on the efficacy and safety of postoperative analgesia with ketoprofen in patients with coronary artery disease after cardiac surgery. Methods The study included 90 patients. Pain intensity assessment was measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Dyspeptic symptoms were evaluated using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS). Acute kidney injury was determined by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria. Genotyping of polymorphisms CYP2C9*3 (1075A>C) rs1057910, CYP2D6*4 (1846G>A) rs3892097, PTGS-2 (G>C) rs20417, PTGS-1 (C>T) rs12353214 was performed. Results The study revealed the following haplotypes: (1) CYP2C9*3 rs1057910 (AA) – CYP2D6*4 rs3892097 (GG), (2) CYP2C9*3 rs1057910 (AC) – CYP2D6*4 rs3892097 (GA), (3) PTGS-2 rs20417 (GG) – PTGS-1 rs12353214 (CT), (4) PTGS-2 rs20417 (CC) – PTGS-1 rs12353214 (CC). Pain intensity by the NRS score was significantly higher in patients with AA-GG haplotype compared to AC-GA haplotype for CYP2C9*3 - CYP2D6*4: 7,13±2,14 and 5±1,52 (p=0,009); 7,06±1,99 and 4,86±1,57 (p=0,007); 4,96±1,83 and 3,29±1,79 (p=0,04); 4,57±1,66 and 2,86±1,57 (p=0,02), on days 1, 2, 3 and 5 in the postoperative period, respectively. There were no significant differences in pain intensity by the NRS in patients with PTGS-2 rs20417 – PTGS-1 rs12353214 haplotypes. Also there were no significant differences in GSRS score and acute kidney injury frequency in patients with AA-GG and AC-GA haplotypes for CYP2C9*3 – CYP2D6*4 and GG-CT and CC-CC haplotypes for PTGS-2 rs20417 – PTGS-1 rs12353214. Conclusion CYP2C9*3 - CYP2D6*4 haplotypes affect efficacy of postoperative analgesia with ketoprofen in patients with coronary artery disease after cardiac surgery. Further studies are needed to develop genotype-guided postoperative pain management. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): This study was financially supported by RF President's grant for scientific schools, project No. NSh 2698.2020.7 Pain intensity by NRSDyspepsia symptoms by GSRS

PML-Bodies as Open Dynamic System

According to modern concepts, the formation of functional dynamic structures in a cell that do not have a membrane (membrane-less organelles) is based on reversible phase transitions of the “liquid - liquid” type of biopolymers. The properties of such systems significantly depend on the changes in external conditions and the action of various stimuli. One of the best studied membrane-less organelles are PML bodies. These polyfunctional protein organelles are present in most cell types and are involved in the regulation of transcription, cell differentiation, stress response, etc. It is known that all PML are involved in the formation of PML bodies. PML bodies are sensors of the cell stress response to an increase in reactive oxygen species. Therefore, it can be assumed that such stressful conditions will cause significant changes in the structure and properties of PML bodies. We examined the effect of acute oxidative stress caused by cells treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the localization, morphology, and dynamics of the exchange of isoforms of the scaffold PML protein of these structures with nucleoplasm. Stressful conditions led to a significant decrease in the proportion of the mobile fraction during the restoration of fluorescence after photobleaching of the fusion proteins EGFP-PML-I, EGFP-PML-II, and EGFP-PML-V involved in PML bodies. At the same time cells treatmened with H2O2 does not change the dynamics of the exchange of isoforms EGFP-PML-III, EGFP-PML-IV, EGFP-PML-VI with nucleoplasm. Thus, oxidative stress causes a redistribution of scaffold proteins within PML bodies. The obtained data proved the dynamic nature of membrane-less organelles as an open dynamic systems existing at the edge of chaos, whose evolution essentially depends on the changes in external conditions. This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (RSF No 19-15-00107) and the RF President Fellowship SP-259.2019.4.

О ФАКТОРАХ КОРРУПЦИОННОЙ ПРЕСТУПНОСТИ В РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ И МЕТОДАХ БОРЬБЫ С НЕЙ

The importance of combating corruption-related crimes is relevant; furthermore, the high latency of such crimes confirms the necessity to identify the combination of factors influencing the increase and decrease in the level of corruption-related crimes in the country. The paper deals with the study of factors causing corruption-related crimes in the Russian Federation and those promoting the decrease in its level. The paper analyses the empirical data for 2010-2021 on the most common corruption crimes (Art. 290, 291 of the RF CC), the cases of which have been referred to court. The author carried out the correlation-regression analysis of quantitative factors, which can influence the level of corruption crimes in the country, and, based on the analysis, made the conclusions and gave recommendations. The study proves that the increase in the number of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs per one unit leads to the decrease in the number of corruption-related crimes on average by 0.0126 units, and the increase in the number of employees on the federal level per one unit leads to the decrease in the number of corruption-related crimes on average by 0.998 units. The study proves that the increase in the number of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs per one unit leads to the decrease in the number of corruption-related crimes in average by 0.0126 units; and the increase in the number of employees on the federal level per one unit leads to the decrease in the number of corruption-related crimes in average by 0.998 units. The main method of combating the corruption-related crimes is a criminal legal method, which application efficiency causes doubt in terms of economic crimes decriminalization. To improve the efficiency of combating the corruption crimes, the author proposes creating the institution of a Commissioner for Anti-Corruption Policy under the RF President for the reliable identification of corruption crimes and independent control over the investigation, introducing measures to strengthen openness and justification of the RF budget system expenditures.

THE PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RUSSIAN HIGHER EDUCATION’S EXPORT TO VIETNAM: THE CASE OF NORTHERN (ARCTIC) FEDERAL UNIVERSITY

This article discusses the prospects for the development of Russian higher education’s export to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Based on the analysis of the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation, the Decree of the RF President “On the national goals and strategic objectives of the development of the Russian Federation till 2024”, the materials of the federal project “Export of Education”, and the national project “Science and Universities”, the authors have ascertained that at the level of strategic documents, the export of educational services in Russia is considered as a tool of “soft power” — a source of state income and a way to attract highly-qualified specialists to the labor market. The authors have conducted a study of the potential of the educational market in Vietnam based on the analysis of the previous researches on educational migration, statistical information of education export to Vietnam, the state of Russian-Vietnamese relations, the position of the Russian language in the country, and key statistical indicators, as well as participant observation within the framework of the author’s professional activities. The role of Rossotrudnichestvo Office in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in expertise, consultations, and organizational support to Russian educational organizations is considered. This paper analyzes the experience of the Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M. V. Lomonosov as it entered the educational market of Vietnam and established contacts with Vietnamese universities: the Hanoi University of Business and Technology (HUBT) and the Vietnam National University of Forestry (VNUF). Conclusions are drawn about the potential for strengthening the positions of the Russian higher educational institutions in the educational market of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the near future, as well as the importance of developing scientific and educational cooperation with Vietnamese universities as an effective tool for developing academic mobility, promoting the Russian language, implementing joint educational programs, research projects and developing export of education in general.

The study of influence of heat treatment procedures on structure and properties of the new high-strength steel with increased cold resistance

The study of influence of different heat treatment procedures on microstructure and mechanical properties of the new high-strength weldable cold-resistant steel 20G2SMRA (20Г2СМРА) is conducted. Morphology of martensite after steel quenching, as well after quenching and consequent tempering, is examined using optical metallography and electron microscopy. Regularities of varying of microstructure parameters, hardness values (HV1) and impact strength KCV were revealed in this work at the temperature –60 °С depending on heating temperature for quenching and consequent tempering. Amount of residual austenite after quenching starting from the temperatures 850, 950 and 1000 °C was determined using X-ray structural phase analysis. The rational procedure of heat treatment was established as a result of the study; it provides combination of guaranteed yield strength σ0,2 ≥ 600 N/mm2 together with low-temperature impact strength KCV–60 ≥ 50 J/sm2 and ductility δ5 ≥ 17%. The obtained results of investigation are aimed for commercial putting into practice in the conditions of heavy plate production at 5000 rolling mill of Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK). The work was done under financial support of the RF Ministry of Education and Science within the framework of execution of the grant of RF President (Agreement No. 075-15-2020-205 dated 17.03.2020 (int. No. MK-1979.2020.8)).

THE VALUE OF LOVE IN THE SYSTEM OF FORMATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL MATURITY OF THE EDUCATOR

The existing legislation determines the education as "an integral and focused process of teaching and upbringing, which represents a socially important value and shall be implemented so as to meet the interests of the individual, the family, the society and the state". However, even in this part, the meaning of the notion ‘socially significant benefit is not specified and allows for a wide range of interpretation [2]. Yet the more inconcrete is the answer to the question – "who and how should determine the interests of the individual, the family and even the state?" The national doctrine of education in the Russian Federation, which determined the goals of teaching and upbringing, the ways to attain them by means of the state policy regulating the field of education, the target achievements of the development of the educational system for the period up to 2025, approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of October 4, 2000 #751, was abrogated by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of March 29, 2014 #245 [7]. The new doctrine has not been developed so far. The RAE Academician A.B. Khutorsky believes that the absence of the national doctrine of education presents a threat to national security and a violation of the right of citizens to quality education. Accordingly, the teacher has to solve the problem of achieving the harmony of interests of the individual, the family, the society and the government on their own, which, however, judging by the officially published results, is the task that exceeds the abilities of the participants of the educational process. 
 The particular concern about the results of the patriotic upbringing served as a basis for the legislative initiative of the RF President V. V. Putin, who introduced the project of an amendment to the Law of RF "About Education of the Russian Federation" to the State Duma in 2020, regarding the quality of patriotic upbringing [3]. Patriotism, considered by the President of RF V. V. Putin as the only possible idea to unite the nation is "THE FEELING OF LOVE OF THE MOTHERLAND" and the readiness for every sacrifice and heroic deed for the sake of the interests of your Motherland. However, the practicing educators experience shortfalls in efficient methodologies of patriotic upbringing, which should let them bring up citizens, loving their Motherland more than themselves. The article is dedicated to solution to this problem based on the Value-sense paradigm of upbringing educational dynasty of the Kurbatovs [15].

Особенности этничности и межэтнических отношений в городской и сельской среде Хакасии

В статье представлен анализ влияния городского образа жизни на происходящие в республике Хакасия этнические процессы: этническую консолидацию, мобилизацию и размывание этнической идентичности хакасов. Автор исследует этническую трансформацию хакасов-горожан на основе сопоставления их с русским городским населением региона, а также с хакасами, проживающими в сельской местности. Эмпирическую базу исследования составили материалы опроса, проведенного в 2018 г. в Республике Хакасия. Совокупный размер выборки — 1500 человек. Исходя из задач исследования, выборка формировалась из двух частей. Для изучения адаптационных процессов было опрошено 1000 бывших сельских жителей (русской и хакасской национальностей), проживающих в городских поселениях Хакасии; для сравнения уровня этнического самосознания среди городских и сельских хакасов было опрошено 500 хакасов, проживающих в сельской местности. Основной метод опроса — формализованное интервью. Проведенный анализ подтвердил наличие различий в развитии этничности и межэтнических отношений в городской и сельской средах региона. Это связано с влиянием урбанизации на национальную хакасскую культуру, традиции и мировоззрение коренного народа республики. В городе процесс этнической консолидации хакасов выражен более отчетливо, это своего рода реакция на «агрессивную» полиэтническую городскую среду, в которой хакасы вынуждены быстрее интегрироваться, забывая о существующих субэтнических различиях. Этномобилизационные процессы в городе выражаются также в форме актуализации этнической идентичности для городских жителей: в городе она более значима для хакасов, чем в сельской местности. Благодарность. Работа выполнена при поддержке гранта Президента Российской Федерации для государственной поддержки молодых российских ученых — кандидатов наук (№ МК-6401.2018.6).

Digitalization of entrepreneurship as a driver of its growth

Subject. The article considers the impact of digital economy on entrepreneurship, which is a key factor in influencing the social and economic life of countries with market economies. New economic processes are emerging, such as e-commerce, as well as new economic agents, such as digital government and digital enterprises, which, in turn, are shaping the digital entrepreneurial ecosystem. Objectives. We focus on exploring the impact of digital economy on business activity. Methods. The study draws on the methods of logical and statistical analysis. Results. The digital economy is forcing many States to take a new course in their policies to improve socio-economic processes. In 2017, the RF President's Decree was issued called On the Strategy for Information Society Development in the Russian Federation for 2017–2030, which is aimed at the development of information and communication technologies, including those ones in the economy. Conclusions. Any State should provide favorable conditions for digitalization of entrepreneurship. Public financial support is crucial for creating and fostering innovative center for development of new digital enterprises.

Denaturing Effect of Guanidine Hydrohloride on Amyloid Fibrils

According to modern concepts, monomeric proteins under native conditions have a unique three-dimensional structure determined and optimized evolutionarily. This structure encoded by amino acid sequence that ensures the correct folding of protein molecules. Amyloid fibrils formed from the same protein under different conditions, on the contrary, can vary in their structure. Given the significant differences in the morphology of amyloid fibrils and monomeric proteins, it can be assumed that conformational stability of these states of the proteins also varies significantly. To revealing these differences denaturing effects can be used. In this work the depolymerization of amyloid fibrils formed from lysozyme and Abeta-peptide induced by denaturating agent guanidine hydrochloride was studied. Using the wide range of physicochemical approaches (including specially elaborated) we showed that amyloids are far from as stable as they are considered (even less stable than monomeric proteins). These results are a step towards identifying effects that can lead to degradation of amyloids and their clearance in vivo without adverse effects on the functionally active state of the proteins forming them. This work was supported by grant from Russian Science Foundation No 18-74-10100 (experiments with lysozyme) and RF President Fellowship SP-841.2018.4 (experiments with Abeta-peptide).

The Fourth World Professional Forum “The Book. Culture. Education. Innovations” – “Crimea-2018”

The Fourth World Professional Forum “The Book. Culture. Education. Innovations” is reviewed with the main focus on the 25-th International Conference “Libraries and Information Resources in the Modern World of Science, Culture, Education and Business”, the Third General Conference of the National Library Association “Libraries of the Future” and the First Scientific and Educational Symposium “Building and Developing the Modern Digital Environment for Education and Science”. For the first time, RF President Vladimir Putin, sent his welcome address in which he emphasized that the Forum became an important event for the representatives of research and educational organizations, professionals in arts and humanities, the site to discuss acute professional problems, and to make plans for the future.Several Forum events are reviewed, among them the open press-conference, the National Libraries Day, ROSPATENT Day, Day of Library Innovations, Intellectual and Discussion Duel «To the Barriers!” Within the framework of the Forum, over 130 simultaneous events were held in diverse formats: lectures, discussions, workshops, round tables, and business games. The Forum conclusions are made; the participants say that the Forum has its unique character, traditions and bright future.

УМОМ РОССИЮ НЕ ПОНЯТЬ

<p align="justify">В интервью одного из авторов теории административного рынка профессора С. Г. Кордонского и кандидата социологических наук О. А. Моляренко поднимаются вопросы эффективности государственного управления в России, взаимоотношений общества и власти, страны и государства. Эксперты делятся личными наблюдениями за жизнью российской глубинки, работой властных структур (С. Г. Кордонский в течение пяти лет работал в Администрации Президента РФ, О. А. Моляренко длительное время посвятила полевым социологическим исследованиям сельских поселений в разных регионах России) и делают вывод, что государство, власть как институт и страна как общество находятся в параллельных реальностях. В беседе были также затронуты проблемы имитационной деятельности демократических институтов в сословном обществе и неэффективности заимствованной на Западе системы образования. </font>

POWER, METALLURGICAL AND CHEMICAL MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PHYSICAL DATA CODING USING POLARISING SPIN DEVICES

Objectives. Spin nanoelectronics facilitate fundamentally new ways of encoding and encrypting information implemented using photon spins in fibre-optic data transmission lines. The article discusses the possibility of creating a spin LED emitting circularly polarised light. Methods. In a spin LED, spin-polarised carriers are injected from a ferromagnetic contact combined with a quantum well. Results. Quantum selection rules for describing recombination establish a connection between the circular polarisation of light, emitted along the normal to the surface, and the spin polarisation of the electrons. Conclusion. Physical methods for coding and transmitting information by means of polarised spin devices using the spin degree of freedom are formulated. The configuration principles of a polarised radiation generator (spin LED) are proposed. The approach is based on a heterostructure containing the quantum well InGaAs / GaAs (luminescent layer) and the ferromagnetic layer GaMnAs. It is established that the quantum well emission line is split into two circularly polarised components, which opens up new possibilities for coding and transmission of information in fibre-optic data transmission lines by the methods of polarisation modulation. The circular polarisation of the photoluminescence from the InGaAs / GaAs quantum well is caused by the magnetisation of a nearby ferromagnetic GaMnAs layer. Acknowledgments The author is grateful to the employees of NIFTI UNN named after N.I. Lobachevsky Yu.A. Danilov and M.V. Dorokhin for samples, the employee of ISSP RAS S.V. Zaitsev for optical measurements, the employee of the Moscow State University of Railway Engineering (MIIT) V.P. Solov'ev for useful discussions. The work is partially supported by the grant of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research No. 16-07-00863a and the RF President's grant MK-5754.2016.3.

Secular State Discussions at the Constitutional Meeting

S.S. Alexeev, one of the architects of the "Presidential" Draft Constitution that was introduced for discussion and amendment at the 1993 Constitutional Meeting defined the essence of a secular state as 'civilized, non-religious, not over-ideologized state.' Not all participants of the Meeting shared that formula. Some of them considered the idea of a secular state for "our society to be hollow," although many saw its interrelation with the federal form of governance, and, which is more important, with a democratic rule-of-law state. A compound approach to understanding the essence of the secular state, its content and, in general, the usefulness of its constitutional regulation, resulted in very hot debates at the Meeting, especially among representatives of various political, religious and nonreligious views. The paper is devoted to the controversy among the Meeting's participants surrounding the notions of 'secular state,' 'atheistic activity,' 'freedom of expression of atheistic opinions.' The paper focuses attention on the extent to which participants of the Constitutional Meeting, especially the representatives of the legal science and expert institutions, managed to influence amendments made in the original text submitted by the RF President.

“Hybrid Landscape” in the Near East

In 2015 Syrian President turned to Russia with a request for military assistance to fight the jihadist organization “Islamic State” (ISIL) prohibited in Russia. The RF Council of Federation has given permission to RF President to use armed forced of the Russian Federation in the territory of Syria. One of the purposes of the Russian involvement in military actions was to prevent spreading of terrorism at the distant approaches to our country. Military actions have been waged on vast expanses of Syria with its specific landscape and climatic conditions, in deserts and semi-deserts. The consequences of military actions that flared up time and again in this region and their effect on the natural environment have been investigated in detail and discussed in mass media. Modern military actions have acquired special nature owing to technological advances in the military area and they turned into the new, so-called “hybrid war”. This war of a new military and technical generation combines traditional and non-traditional irregular wars and requires hi-tech weapons. In other words, the hybrid war required the hybrid methods of its waging. High-accuracy weapons allow for conducting military actions without intrusion to the enemy’s territory and making strikes over many thousand kilometers using aircraft and seabased missiles equipped with the modern devices of objective control, satellite navigation, etc. As a result, the spatial and in-depth damage and destruction of the natural environment become sharply reduced. So, we are speaking here about new ecologized military actions which consequences may be termed as “hybrid ecology”.

ARCTIC «UPGRADE» OF V. V. PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

After establishment of the Soviet power the Arctic for seven decades had been in the focus of attention accomplishing the heroic, repressive, “educational”, economic, political and ideological functions. In 1930-1950 General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Communist Party I.V. Stalin created the first Soviet Arctic shield that included the economic and military strategic power, transport targeted to protection of entirety and security of the Soviet country. The Stalin’s large-scale project of Arctic development was made public in 1931 and was targeted to the enhanced protection of the polar waters by establishing the naval base on the Barents Sea. For implementation of this project the White Sea-Baltic canal was constructed. The Trust “Arktikugol” was established on the Spitsbergen Archipelago to supply coal to the Northern Navy Fleet. The sea expedition over the Northern Sea Route was also organized to prove the possibility of shipping along this route for one navigation season. Upon its successful completion the Chief Department “Sevmorput” was set up here. The epoch of airship construction was opened to explore the Arctic air expanses. Later on there were expeditions to the North Pole, deployment of army on the Chukotka Peninsula, new expeditions to high latitude terrains, construction of high-capacity icebreakers, aerodromes and military bases on the coast of the Arctic Ocean. Unfortunately, in the 1990s in the time of the Soviet Union breakup and perestroika many facilities of the Stalin’s Arctic Shield had been lost and ceased to exist. The early 21st century witnessed the second energetic and goal-oriented breakthrough into the Arctic region and establishment of the second Arctic Shield or bastion based on the key principles of the Soviet Arctic Shield or, in other words, its upgrade in the new conditions of the polycentric world, which is justly connected with the name of Russian President Putin. The interest to the Arctic was revived after V.V. Putin was elected in 2000 the RF President and this was observed against the sharp changes in the political and economic situation in the country. The underlying stimuli were the opening of large offshore hydrocarbon fields in the Arctic seas and global climate warming. From this time on when the interest to the Arctic was on the rise again the attitude of the Russian president and government to this region had changed enormously. Putin personally keep in the focus of his attention all Arctic issues. One of the strategic goals of the policy formulated by Putin is apparently the revival of the Russian Arctic, creation of own Arctic Shield understanding quite clearly that this would require construction anew of the great part of the Arctic infrastructure. This publication investigates in detail the steps of V.V. Putin taken for development of the Arctic ways.

The New Government Armaments Program is Taking Shape

After the July and September meetings of the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation, the RF Government continued its search for a compromise concerning the ceiling for budget funding to be allocated to the next government armaments program for 2018–2025; however, the target suggested by the financial-economic bloc had already been planned in the draft federal budget for the period 2017–2019. The new armaments program must be submitted for the RF President’s approval by July 1 2017.