Territory Of Belarus Research Articles

Were the Lithuanian and Polish Responses to the Refugee Influx Legal or Illegal?

Abstract Since the summer of 2021, the Baltic Sea states of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have been facing an influx of refugees from the territory of Belarus. This migration is fully controlled by the Belarusian authorities. Refugees, coming mainly from Middle Eastern countries, are forced to cross the border with neighbouring EU countries. The aim of this article is therefore to present the legal responses of the Lithuanian and Polish authorities to this influx, to compare the solutions adopted and to critically analyse them. Both states decided to use constitutional measures in the form of states of emergency introduced on a part of their territory, and adopted a number of solutions in laws and regulations. Therefore, the article critically analyses the legal basis for the introduction of a state of emergency in both states. It also analyses the solutions adopted at the statutory level, which enable border services to use push-back. The legal regulations introduced are also compared with international and European Union law binding on both Lithuania and Poland. Therefore examples of violations of international law in the field of refugees’ rights to seek international protection are indicated.

Haplotypic diversity of the <sub>mt</sub><i>Cytb</i> gene of the common vole (<i>Microtus arvalis sensu lato</i>) in Belarus

The analysis of the recent phylogeographic studies of Microtus arvalis is carried out to establish the post-glacial history of colonization of the common vole in the Central region of Europe. The authors have presented the original data on the genetic variability of the mtCytb gene of the common vole (Microtus arvalis s. l.) from 18 localities studied on the territory of Belarus. The genetic characteristics of 53 individuals of the common vole belonging to one eastern line of mitochondrial DNA were studied. It is shown that the population of the species in Belarus is characterized by a high level of genetic diversity comparable to that of other haplogroups of the eastern mtDNA line. The level of variability of mitochondrial fragments of the mtCytb gene of the common vole (Microtus arvalis) from Belarus turned outtobeq uite high (Hd ± SDHd = 0.97 ± 0.02), which is manifested in a large number of the identified mtDNA haplotypes (n = 41). The distribution of the identified haplotypes of Microtus arvalis across various landscape-geographical areas correlates well with the location of the most remote haplotypes on the parsimony network. The assumption is given about the re-settlement (about 9000 thousand years ago) and further settlement of Microtus arvalis on the modern territory of Belarus in two directions: from southeast to west and to northwest, as well as from north to southeast.

EARRINGS OF THE «DANUBE-PASTYRSKE» СIRCLE IN THE SOUTH OF EASTERN EUROPE: AREA AND CHRONOLOGY

The paper presents consider of earrings of the «Da­nu­be-Pastyrske» circle in the south of Eastern Europe. The catalog of this jewelry including 39 items from hill-forts, settlements, burial grounds, hoards and chance finds was compiled. This catalog includes seven hoards of Pastyrske circle and roughly synchronous with them — Zalissia and Second Tsyrkuny hoards, although they could be dated to the second half of the 7th century as well. It also includes four hill-forts and 15 settlements, one metallurgical center and one hoard of the Saltiv culture. The materials of the archaeological assemblage from Haradzishcha (territory of Belarus) require clarification. Two cemeteries from the Crimea — Luchyste and the Khersones necropolis, one burial — Yasynuvata. For nine locations, the type of archaeological resource is unknown.
 Several regions of concentration can be distinguished: Dniester-Prut region, Pripyat basin, Southern Pobuzhjia, Middle Dnieper, Southern Crimea, Nizhne Poseymya, Bryansk Podesenia, Verkhivya Psla and the Siversky Donets basin. Other finds are scattered across Eastern Europe.
 It is impossible to determine the total number of this jewelry that come from these locations. First of all, this concerns the materials of the Pastyrske hill-fort. It is difficult to determine how many such earrings from «pre-revolutionary» collections were found on the site. Seven items come from archaeological explorations of the site already after the Second World War.
 The number of finds from Bytytsia hill-fort is still unknown until the complete publication of the materials. Semi-completed items were found in Oleshky. A casting mold for making earrings of this circle at the settlement of Tsyrkuny 13 was found. Instruments for stamping was discovered in Second Tsyrkuny hoard. 19 earrings of the «Danube-Pastyrske» circle were found in seven hoards of Pastyrske circle. Finds from Zalissia hoard are fragmented. 48 jewelry come from other locations.
 Traces of the manufacture of such jewelry are recorded on four sites — Pastyrske, Bytytsia, Oleshky, Tsyrkuny 13, and in one hoard — Second Tsyrkuny.
 In general, such earrings were found in the south of Eastern Europe in the early Middle Ages until the 10th century although the main stage of their chrono­logy falls on the 8th century. However, the small number of assemblages does not allow us to draw unequivocal conclusions.

RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR OF 2022 : HISTORICAL ORIGINS OF TRAGEDY AND LESSONS FOR NEXT GENERATIONS OF UKRAINIANS

Problem statement. For many of our compatriots, the large-scale invasion of sovereign Ukraine by Russian troops on 24 February 2022 came as a complete suddenness, an extreme aggression by the so-called “brotherly people”. The Russian Federation has launched a full-scale invasion along the entire length of the common border, as well as from the territory of Belarus and the temporarily occupied Crimea, launched missile strikes against military and critical civilian infrastructure in the regions of Ukraine and continues to conduct military operations destroying cities, villages and the civilian population, perpetrating genocide against the Ukrainian people. But if we carefully analyse Ukrainian-Russian relations throughout the centuries of our non-neighbourliness, then the openly hostile attitude of today's the Russian establishment and the part of Russian society that supports it is not surprising. The purpose of the article is to conduct a historical analysis of the Russian aggression origins against the Ukrainian people, nation, state, culture, Ukrainians during the X−XXI centuries and outline the historical prospects of relations with the Russian state for the preservation and stable development of future generations of Ukrainians. Conclusions. The future of the Russian state depends entirely on the position of the civilized world. According to leading historians, with whom we fully agree, the destruction of the modern Russian empire could lead to the development of such post-imperial ethnic groups as the West Siberian, Far Eastern, Cossack pre-Caucasian, etc. At the same time, we can agree with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the coalition forming advisability of countries most interested in Russia's disarmament, which could include Britain, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and possibly Turkey. Such an alliance could be a powerful lever in opposing the revival of the Soviet Union, which was a “prison of nations” and has now been partially revived to force all civilized countries (especially those bordering Russia and Belarus) to consider further steps. So, let us remember and constantly remind our children that the policy of the Soviet leadership towards Ukraine was occupation, as well as the policy of the Russian Empire in the XIX century and the Russian Federation now. It consisted in purposeful actions to destroy Ukraine and the Ukrainian people as the bearer of national identity, history, culture and language in order to permanently consolidate the territory of Ukraine under Moscow's rule. Today, Ukraine is forced to defend its civilized European choice and state sovereignty from Russia. It is necessary to remember and prevent the mistakes and miscalculations that led to the defeat of the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917−1921, the main of which were internal disagreements in the face of external aggression, which led to the occupation of the territory. Today we have a chance to end this war for the sovereignty of our state, for the life of the people in it and finally bury the empire of evil.

Diplomatic Ukrainian-Belarusian relations in the context of a full-scale war

The relevance of this study and the stated problem primary lies in the fact that Ukraine has a large common border with Belarus, which is why the political and security situation within it directly affects the national security of Ukraine. It is also worth noting that this topic is not sufficiently disclosed in the works of other domestic and foreign scientists, political scientists and historians. In this regard, the purpose of this scientific work is to study the diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus, as well as the prospects for their development in the context of a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine. In addition, the tasks of the work are to study the influence of Belarus on the Russian-Ukrainian war. The following scientific methods are the main ones in this research: analysis, induction, synthesis, comparison and graphical methods of presenting information. In the article, the concept of diplomacy is revealed, the procedure for establishing diplomatic relations between states is described. It is considered how Belarus and Ukraine implemented their foreign policy towards each other after the collapse of the Russian Empire and the declaration of independence of the young states. It has been studied the conclusion of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine in 1991 and the course of bilateral relations between the states until 2022. It has also been considered how Belarus contributed to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, as well as its role in this conflict. Special attention is paid to the course of the Russian-Ukrainian peace negotiations that has taken place on the territory of Belarus in 2022. The materials of the article are of practical and theoretical value for political scientists, historians and other representatives of the scientific community who are interested in the diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Belarus

Содержание изотопов плутония в объектах окружающей среды Полесского государственного радиационно-экологического заповедника

The study was carried out in the territory of the Polesie State Radioecological Reserve. For the study of long-term environmental effects of the Chernobyl accident in the territory of Belarus, the Polesie State Radioecological Reserve was established in 1988. It is located in the Belarus sector of the Chernobyl exclusion zone. The objective of the study was to estimate the content of plutonium isotopes in the environmental samples inside and outside of the Reserve area. Determination of plutonium isotopes was carried out by alpha spectrometry. The method includes complete decomposition of samples, radiochemical purification, preparation of alpha sources, alpha spectrometric analysis. The content of Pu-239+240 and Pu-238 in soil samples is in the range of 1.8-141 and <0.82-55 Bq/kg, respectively. The concentration of Pu-239+240 was at the level of n·10Е+0 Bq/kg in areas of the Kozeluga branch of the Khoiniki forestry, located outside the Reserve. Plutonium isotopes concentration outside the Reserve was an order of magnitude higher than it was in global fallout. The concentration of Pu-239+240 in pine cones in the study areas was <0.001-0.0041 Bq/kg. The Pu-239+240 transfer factor in Scots pine cones grown in the Reserve territory was at the level of n·10-4. The obtained value of the plutonium transfer factors for pine cones was comparable with the plutonium transfer factor for pine needles grown in the Reserve territory.

Representation of the Historical Memory of the Great Patriotic War in the Historical and Cultural Landscape of the Cross-Border Region

The article deals with the formation and representation of the historical memory of the Great Patriotic War in the cross-border territory of the Augustów Canal (the border areas of Belarus, Poland and Lithuania). The subject of the research is the fates of the servicemen of the 68th Grodno Fortified Region, who were the first to receive the attack of the Nazi troops in June 1941. The research uses the archival documents, published and unpublished memoirs of the direct participants of the events, results of the research of the battlefields on the territory of Belarus and Poland. The author believes that for the formation and representation of collective historical memory and identity the results of research using special historical methods and active use of various forms of commemorative practices are relevant: publication of scientific and popular scientific literature, which popularizes the historical and cultural heritage of the region, inclusion of monuments and memorial places in the State List of Historical and Cultural Values, installation of monuments, memorial signs and information posts, development of tourist routes and carrying out military-historical reconstructions, creation of museums and museum expositions.

Балет в театрах князей Радзивиллов в XVIII столетии

The appearance of the first ballet productions and the emergence of professional education for dancers on the territory of Belarus in the 18th century is associated with the activities of the theaters of the magnates — the wealthiest representatives of the highest nobility of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Russia and Zhmud, which included present-day Belarusian lands. The theater stages, equipped with complex mechanisms and decorations for creating a variety of sound and visual effects, were where the leading choreographers and dancers of their time worked. The most durable and large-scale activities were those of private theaters created and functioning at the expense of the ‘uncrowned kings’ of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the princes Radziwiłłs. The representatives of this family demonstrated sincere interest in art and made their courtyards the center of cultural life and artistic education of their time. To teach the art of the ballet to their own children, people close to the court and cadets of the ‘Knight’s Academy’ created by the Radziwiłłs based on the model of the Saxon educational institution for the military, the princes invited famous professional dancers from France and the Italian kingdoms to work. In order to form permanent dance troupes at their theaters in Slutsk and Niasviž, the Radziwiłłs established ballet schools. The heyday of the art of ballet on the theater stages belonging to the Radziwiłłs dates back to 1777–1790. During this period, along with choreographers from European countries, Belarusian dancer Antony Loiko began engaging himself in productions of ballet divertissements and interludes. Student of ballet reformer Jean-Georges Noverre, Francesco Caselli staged several ballet performances with detailed dramatic plots, one of which was Orfeusz w piekle (Orpheus in Hell) to the music of the German composer and leader of the Niasviž Chapel, Jan Dawid Holland. The activities of the theaters belonging to the Radziwiłłs in the 18th century were of great significance for the development of the art of dance, as well as education for people of different social strata. Because of the latter’s personal participation in performances, not only representatives of the nobility, but also peasants, bourgeois and soldiers were introduced to classical European music and ballet. Children who successfully completed their studies at schools with leading European choreographers acquired a profession that allowed them to later work in different theaters and provide themselves with a comfortable existence.

АНАЛИЗ ЗАРАЖЕННОСТИ ГЕЛЬМИНТАМИ ЧУЖЕРОДНЫХ ВИДОВ РЫБ СЕМЕЙСТВА GOBIIDAE С ТЕРРИТОРИИ ПГРЭЗ

The results on the study of helminthic infestation of three, alien for the territory of Belarus, species of fish of the family Gobiidae (Neogobius fluviatilis, Babka gymnotrachelus and Proterorhinus semilunaris) from the territory of PSRER are described in the article. The studies of representatives of the Gobiidae family were carried out from 2020 to 2022. A total of 395 fish individuals were examined. Nematodes, trematodes and acanthocephalans have been registered. Data on helminthological studies of gobies from the territory of the reserve are presented for the first time.

Features of climate change in the European territory of the Union State of Russia and Belarus

The article is devoted to the assessment of changes in the thermal regime the Republic of Belarus and the European territory of Russia. The relevance of the topic is due to the need to study regional climatic changes in the context of modern global warming. As a result of the study, it was revealed that in the region in the period 1900–2019 in all months of the year the air temperature rises at different rates. Warming occurs more intensely during the December – March period. The dependence of the thermal regime on the type of circulation modes has been established. The fire hazard on the territory of Belarus, the dynamics of dangerous meteorological phenomena depending on the navigation period and the distribution of stratospheric ozone as one of the most important climatic factors are considered.

SEISMICITY of the TERRITORY of BELARUS in 2016–2017

A review of seismicity in the territory of Belarus for 2016-2017 based on the data of 17 digital stations is present-ed. 64 events with Kd=4.7–8.3 and 42 events with Kd=5.2–8.6 were recorded for 2016 and 2017 respectively. All events were confined to the southern part of the territory, including the Soligorsk mining area. A comparison of NΣ and ΣE for 2016 and 2017 with the long-term average values shows that the level of the seis-mic energy released in 2016 and 2017 was reduced. The number of events for 20162017 corresponds to the long-term average background values. There is no stable correlation between the released seismic energy and the number of earthquakes for the long-term period of 1983–2017.

ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC GROUND OF THE ANTI-EROSION TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES

A brief description of the adverse consequences of the manifestation of water erosion of soils on the territory of Belarus is given. An integrated ecological and economic assessment of the extent of damage due to water erosion processes in the agricultural landscapes of the republic is proposed. The calculation of damage in value terms according to the data of the second round of the cadastral valuation of land is given on the example of arable lands of the Republican unitary enterprise "Uchkhoz BGSHA" of the Goretsky district of the Mogilev region.
 The options for optimizing the anti-erosion structure of cultivated crops are determined on the basis of an ecological and economic assessment and agro-ecological grouping of working areas according to the magnitude of probable damage due to erosion, including lost profits from agricultural production.

PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS IN BELARUS: SOURCES, STOCKPILES, REGULATION

The article is devoted to the results of the study in Belarus of the chemicals, additionally included in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) – ‘new’ POPs. The features of ‘new’ POPs and the problems of their identification are shown. The situation with industrial chemicals based on ‘new’ POPs in Belarus,
 including polybromodiphenyl esters, per- and polyfluorinated compounds, short-chain chlorinated paraffins, polychlorinated
 naphthalenes and other POPs is briefly described. Estimates of technogenic flows of polybromodiphenyl ethers in the composition of polymer waste of electrical and electronic equipment, including the volume of their annual formation
 on the territory of Belarus, are given. The list of scientific and methodological and regulatory technical documents for
 the regulation of POPs in Belarus, developed as part of the implementation of a number of activities of State scientific
 and technical programs, National plans and subprograms on the management of POPs, is given. Priority measures for
 the environmentally sound management of POPs, additionally included in the Convention, as well as the main directions
 of further research are identified.

SIGNIFICANT SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED RESULTS OF THE INSTITUTE OF NATURE MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF BELARUS IN THE FIELD OF GEOTECTONICS, GEOPHYSICS AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY

A brief analysis of the significant geological results of the last period obtained at the Institute of Nature Management of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, presented in the form of two blocks, including projects of fundamental and applied importance, is given. The fundamental developments of this period include studies on the fault tectonics of Belarus, synrift geodynamics of the Pripyat trough, the ecological and tectonophysical environment of Belarus, suture zones on the territory of Belarus, a geological and geophysical model of the deep structure of the Earth's crust according to the Georift-2013 profile, unconventional sources of hydrocarbon raw materials of Belarus. Among the developments of an applied nature are the creation of a model of the oil and geological zoning of the Pripyat trough, the justification of studies on the geological and geophysical profile "Vostochny", the features of the manifestation of natural mercury in the geological environment, the justification of oil work on Poznyakevichskaya Square and systematic studies
 of priority areas of the Pripyat trough, geological and geophysical studies on the Vechernegorskaya area of Antarctica.

THE MAIN RESULTS OF THE SCIENTIFIC STUDIES OF THE INSTITUTE OF NATURE MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF BELARUS IN THE AREA OF MODERN GEODYNAMICS AND PALEOGEOGRAPHY OF THE CENOZOIC

The main results of scientific studies in the area of modern geodynamics and paleogeography of the Cenozoic obtained for the recent fifteen years are given in the article. The schemes of their area distribution are created on the base of the indicates study of modern endogenic and technogenic processes, the
 influence of geological factors on population dwelling comfort is characterized, the geochemical background of the quaternary sediments and radon field on the territory of Belarus are characterized. The palynological data for the sediments of the Muravinsky Interglacial and the Late Glacial-Holocene are obtained in the frameworks of the study of the dynamics of the adjoined regions of Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and Russia, the paleorelief and paleolandscape of the optimal phases of the named time intervals of the quarter are reconstructed, corresponding chronostratigraphic schemes are developed and approved, the interregional chronostratigraphic and paleoclimatic correlation of paleogeografic events of the Pleistocene and the Late Glacial-Holocene to the adjacent regions to Belarus is done.

Pear rust in Belarus because of fungus Gymnosporangium sabinae (Dicks.) G. Winter invasion

Pear rust in Belarus was first registered in 2007, and after 12 years the disease acquired the character of epiphytosis. A map of the distribution of pear rust in the republic has been compiled. The symptoms of damage to pear and juniper, spores of the causative agent (fungus Gymnosporangium sabinae (Dicks.) G. Winter) are described and illustrated. It has been shown that aecio- and teliospores overwintered in the shoots do not germinate in the next growing season. The teliospores of the current year on juniper germinate not only with phragmobasidia with basidiospores, but also with mycelium, which probably ensures the re-infection of this host plant. The high infectious potential of both pear (up to 15 mln aeciospores per 1 cm2 ) and juniper (2 mln teliospores per 1 cm2 ) was determined. The death due to rust of annual shoots of pear and individual plants of the Cossack juniper was ascertained. The invasion of G. sabinae on the territory of Belarus coincides with the wide introduction of susceptible species of juniper into landscaping.

Military presence of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Belarus

A military presence on the territory of the Republic of Belarus is highly significant for the Russian Federation geopolitically. Russia is very particular about having buffer zones, client and neighbouring states with limited sovereignty on its borders. The aim of this article is to analyse the specificity of the Russian Federation’s military presence in Belarus. In the following article, two hypotheses have been verified using factor analysis. Firstly, sustaining control over the territory of Belarus is of particular importance for the military safety of Russia, while at the same time, it detrimentally affects the stability of the Central and Eastern Europe countries. Secondly, the Russian Federation does not have a permanent military base within Belarusian territory and its military presence is solely confined to the use of military and transport infrastructure, which is indispensable for rapid accommodation and deployment of the Armed Force formations as well as for the rotation of strike forces. Due to political reasons, a permanent military presence enables Russia to keep Belarus within its area of influence. Nevertheless, in military terms, the utilisation of military and transport infrastructure in order to rapidly deploy strike forces within the territory of the Republic is far more important.

The release of antimony into the atmospheric air on the territory of Belarus: sources, levels and long-term dynamics

The results of the first assessment of the antimony release into the atmospheric air on the territory of Belarus are discussed. The main anthropogenic sources of antimony emission have been identified, the emission factors have been developed, and the volumes of antimony emission for the period from 1990 to 2020 have been calculated. It is shown that total antimony emissions varied in the range from 1.6 to 5.6 tons per year with maximum values in the early 1990 s, and minimal – in 2000. Antimony emission in 2020 on the territory of the country is estimated at 2.4 t, the contribution of Belarus to global emission is 0.1 %. Decreasing trend of antimony emission over a 30-year period and a change in the contribution of the main sources to total emission have been established. A significant decrease in the contribution of stationary combustion of fuel (from 66 to 14 %) is due to a change in the fuel balance and is accompanied by increase of the contribution of brake wear (from 34 to 61 %). The data obtained can be used to model the transport and dispersion of antimony, to assess health and ecosystems risks, and to develope measures to reduce the releases of antimony into the environment.

GENETIC DIVERSITY OF THE EAST EUROPEAN VOLE (MICROTUS ROSSIAEMERIDIONALIS) IN BELARUS

Data on the genetic variability of the mtCytb gene of the East European vole (Microtus rossiaemeridionalis) from Belarus are presented. In total, the haplotypes of 27 individuals of the East European vole from 8 countries were analyzed during the work. To verify the species belonging of the cryptic species Microtus arvalis s.l., a karyological analysis was also performed. The species composition of the cryptic group was determined by both genetic markers: Microtus arvalis "arvalis" (2n = 46, NF = 84) and Microtus rossiaemeridionalis (2n = 54, NF = 56). The East Eastern European vole inhabiting the territory of Belarus was confirmed to belong to the wave of colonization from South Asia along the northern corridor and possible re-settlement in this territory from the Ural refugium after the last glaciation (12 900–11 700 thousand years ago). The ways of further expansion of the species into the northern and southern parts of Europe were established.

Лишайники и миксомицеты пойменных дубрав заказника «Липичанская пуща» (Гродненская область, Республика Беларусь)

Based on studies conducted in 2021 and 2022, the authors compiled a list of lichens, closely related fungi and myxomycetes of floodplain oak forests of the «Lipichanskaya Pushcha» reserve (Republic of Belarus, Grodno Region). The annotated list includes 148 species: 118 species of lichens, 5 – non-lichenized saprotrophic fungi, 3 – lichenophilic fungi and 22 myxomycetes. The myxomycete Hemitrichia calyculata was recorded for the territory of Belarus for the first time. Lichen species Calicium adspersum, Cetrelia cetrarioides, Chaenotheca chlorella, Hypotrachyna revolutа and Lobaria pulmonaria are included in the Red Data Book of Belarus and are listed for the first time for the reserve «Lipichanskaya Pushcha». The indicator lichens of old-growth oak forests include 19 species.