The present study aims to establish criteria for identifying the type of relation characteristic of certain asyndetic complex sentences in German. The research is based on examples extracted from the DWDS corpus and German literary texts. A definition of the term “asyndetic sentences” is proposed. By employing transformational analysis, descriptive methods, and componential analysis, the paper demonstrates that subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions exhibit varying degrees of integration within the sentence structure, which, in turn, accounts for the difficulties in determining the type of relation in asyndetic constructions. A set of criteria is developed to identify the nature of the connection in asyndetic sentences, including: the degree of semantic cohesion between the parts; the presence of one or multiple focal exponents; the ability to fall within the scope of negation in the main clause; and the capacity to function as a constituent of the main clause. Based on these criteria, a differentiation of asyndetic sentences is proposed: (1) asyndetic sentences with subordination; (2) asyndetic sentences with coordination. Asyndetic sentences of the first type display varying degrees of integration into the overall utterance. It is shown that the interpretation of semantic relations between the parts of an asyndetic compound sentence is largely determined by the text type

The present study aims to explore the specific features of euphemistic representation of alcoholization in Russian and Uzbek linguistic cultures. The research is based on the data extracted from the dictionaries by E. P. Senichkina and M. Omonturdiev, covering a ten-year period and taking into account the contexts of actual speech use. Employing the method of continuous sampling, a total of 286 euphemistic units were identified, classified into eight thematic groups, and analyzed through quantitative, stylistic, cognitive-frame, and pragmatic approaches. The findings reveal that in both linguistic cultures, the core of the nominative field is constituted by euphemisms denoting the process of alcohol consumption and the state of intoxication, while the designations of beverages, containers, locations, and motives occupy peripheral positions. The dominant mechanisms of euphemization include metaphor and metonymy, generalization, vagueness of expression, litotes, and ironic reinterpretation. It is demonstrated that the Russian corpus is quantitatively more extensive and is characterized by a significant proportion of ironic nicknames for drinkers and figurative metaphors with mythological and cultural connotations, whereas the Uzbek corpus predominantly relies on everyday and physiological imagery, which is associated with stricter religious and cultural taboos. The study emphasizes that in both languages, colloquial, familiar, and jocular units dominate in actual usage.

This paper examines the lexicographic dimension of synonymy research in the languages of Dagestan. It highlights the principal difficulties encountered in the lexicographic treatment of synonyms, both within general lexicography and specifically in Dagestani linguistics, and outlines potential approaches to addressing these issues. A key challenge is the lack of up-to-date, theoretically and methodologically developed synonym dictionaries in Dagestani studies, while the only existing work of this kind, A. G. Gyulmagomedov’s Concise Dictionary of Synonyms of the Lezgin Language, requires supplementation and revision to reflect the current linguistic situation. The aim of this study is to test scientifically grounded methods for the lexicographic representation of synonyms and to prepare materials for the updated edition of the aforementioned dictionary. The research draws on data from contemporary lexicographic sources, linguistic experimentation, original and translated literature, media language, and colloquial speech. The paper clarifies the terminology and methodology for lexicographically documenting synonyms, summarizes scholarly findings accumulated over the half-century since the dictionary’s publication in 1982, and proposes revisions to existing entries as well as the creation of new ones. It is demonstrated that many of the challenges in the lexicographic interpretation of synonyms stem from the vagueness of the terminology and methodology currently in use.

This article examines product placement as a narrative strategy within the framework of literary discourse. One of the most productive methods for the deliberate or unconscious linguistic representation of this cultural and semiotic phenomenon is the use of pragmatonyms, which encompass any verbal designation of a brand, trademark, or type of service. The aim of this research is to explore the metaphylogical tactics and technical methods of integrating product placement into literary texts, as well as to propose a typology of such integrations. A comprehensive and systematic analysis of literary product placement enables us to trace its evolution — from the use of pragmatonyms as quasi-advertising insertions in 19th- and 20th-century literature to commercially motivated advertising integrations in contemporary mass-market fiction. By organically embedding themselves into the fabric of narrative or lyrical plots, pragmatonyms, in interaction with other elements of the aesthetic reality, play a crucial role in the realization of idiostylistics and the semantic concept of a work. The authors conclude that a brand functions as a complex sign, acquiring semantically rich connotations. It is argued that references to goods and services contribute to the creation of a cultural and historical background, which, in turn, allows for the interpretation of characters’ mentalities, value systems, and associated plot developments.

This study examines the mechanisms of suggestive influence embedded in horoscope discourse. Suggestion is defined as a specific psychological method through which a suggestor exerts influence on a suggestee. The research identifies its key characteristics: on the one hand, conscious, intrusive, and purposeful manipulation; on the other, uncritical perception and complete trust on the part of the recipient. The empirical material consists of English-language horoscope texts sourced from Horoscope.com and Yourtango.com. The paper proposes and substantiates a method of suggestive analysis aimed at revealing the mechanisms of speech influence in horoscope texts. The method comprises three analytical stages. The first stage involves structural and compositional analysis, including the identification and description of traditional horoscope elements. The second stage entails linguostylistic analysis, focusing on the selection of specific linguistic means and stylistic devices. The third stage is dedicated to identifying speech influence mechanisms at the socio-psychological level. The findings demonstrate that the primary mechanisms of suggestive speech influence include the creation of a personalized effect, the activation of imagination, and the establishment of an atmosphere of trust. It is noted that these techniques ensure effective manipulation of the recipient’s perception in accordance with the genre’s specifics.

This paper investigates the distinctive features of mental representation, categorization, and semantic encoding of color among individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The novelty of the present research lies in the integrated assessment of the semantic salience of basic and high-frequency non-basic color terms through a combination of linguistic and psycholinguistic indices. The study also identifies specific regions within the color space that undergo lexical refinement in the vocabulary of individuals with ASD. Particular research objectives include the identification of potential differences in color-naming strategies employed by autistic individuals and the reconstruction of a conceptual map of color terms. The empirical data were collected from 32 native Russian speakers diagnosed with ASD (17 females and 15 males, aged 16–28; mean age = 19.8, SD = 2.7) and a matched control group comparable in gender, age, and educational background. Data collection was conducted using a free-listing task. The findings demonstrate that individuals with ASD possess a less dense and less homogeneous color lexicon compared to neurotypical native speakers of Russian. Their expression of hue variation is more conventional and less diverse, with a predominant reliance on perceptual similarity and associative proximity in the cognitive structuring of color shades.

This paper presents an original relational model of euphemization as a multilevel mechanism for semantic regulation, shaped at the intersection of cognitive operations, pragmatic orientations, and sociocultural norms. The proposed framework comprises five levels: contextual, intentional, relational, semantic, and discursive. It distinguishes between perlocutionary effect (at the level of euphemistic expression) and perlocutionary act (at the level of euphemistic text and discourse). Key cognitive-pragmatic mechanisms are identified, including selective attention, pragmatic filtering, metapragmatic evaluation, and predictive assessment. A typology of relational vectors of euphemization is introduced to reflect strategic orientations such as ethical, regulatory, institutional, economic, medical, educational, etc. Modern examples from everyday, media, and institutional communication illustrate these concepts. Specific cases include euphemisms for terms like “unemployed” or “disabled.” The study emphasizes that euphemization, organized relationally within cognitive processes, configures multifaceted adjustments in speech behavior aimed at establishing acceptable interpretive trajectories (relational vectors), mitigating socially sensitive aspects of communication, and maintaining discursive balance.

This article presents an in-depth analysis of kinesic emblems that represent mental deviations within contemporary Russian discourse. The study focuses on three specific gestures that are closely associated with verbal euphemisms belonging to the corresponding thematic group. The research addresses the semantic, pragmatic, and cognitive interpretations of these gestures, as well as their status within the system of visual semiotics. The empirical data for the analysis are drawn from an associative experiment involving 291 respondents. The materials for investigation were extracted from the participants’ definitions and comments. By applying the associative-field analysis methodology, the authors delineate the core, near-core, and peripheral zones of meaning. The findings demonstrate that the kinesic gesture of ‘waving a hand near one’s temple’ exhibits a high degree of euphemization and considerable variability in usage. It is also revealed that the gesture of ‘twirling a finger near one’s temple’ serves as a direct negative nomination and carries a conflict-prone pragmatic potential. Furthermore, the gesture of ‘tapping a finger on one’s head’ is interpreted as a causative gesture that prompts reflection. Special attention is given to age-related differences in interpretation: younger respondents are more likely to perceive these gestures as playful, whereas older respondents tend to view them as markers of deviation. The study proves that verbal and non-verbal means establish multiple cross-referential correspondences. The authors conclude that there is a typological comparability between kinesic emblems and euphemisms, and they refine the pragmatic status of these phenomena.

This article examines the verbal manifestations of the naive worldview, focusing specifically on folk measurement units as represented in the Russian and Turkish linguistic pictures of the world. The study undertakes a comparative analysis of these units through the application of onomasiological and componential methods, complemented by linguocultural interpretation. The term folk measurement unit is understood as a linguocultural construct employed in the parameterization of reality. It is argued that such units are inherently anthropocentric, reflecting human-centered perspectives. In contrast to standardized scientific measures, folk measurements often exhibit deviations from established norms and standards. It is noted that, alongside denotative features, these units may also carry evaluative and emotive connotations. The research establishes that the prototypical foundations of folk measures are rooted in figurative imagery. Findings indicate a general correspondence between the measurement symbolaries of Russian and Turkish linguocultures. The principal images utilized for expressing measurement include speck, crumb, drop, needle, hair, hand, eye, and gold. It is revealed that the Russian linguistic culture demonstrates a richer inventory of such units. Naïve cognition employs similar strategies for conceptualizing and categorizing measures: reproductive, contemplative, analytical, intensifying tactics, as well as tactics of exteriorization or interiorization. In Turkish linguoculture, a tendency towards the standardization of acoustic imagery is observed. The study concludes that the specificity of parameterization is expressed through the selection of measurement standards and their cultural interpretation, which is shaped by the respective cultural continuum.

This paper investigates the representation of causative semantics in English phraseological units (PUs) containing verbs from the semantic fields of “push” and “pull.” The study employs a combination of descriptive and interpretative methods, including definitional, componential, and etymological analysis, as well as elements of contextual analysis and the method of semantic explication. A semantic typology of causative relations is proposed, encompassing direct and indirect causation (instrumental and mediated), autocausation (reflexive, partitive, and possessive), and mixed types. The findings reveal that PUs with verbs from the “push” semantic field are more likely to retain causative semantics, whereas those with verbs from the “pull” field demonstrate a tendency toward the loss of this semantic component. The preservation of causative semantics is shown to be conditioned by the actualization of features of the causative action and the opposition of participants in the situation based on volitionality. Conversely, the loss of the causative component arises when non-causative elements of the prototypical situation are foregrounded, a phenomenon particularly characteristic of PUs with an initial semantics of autocausation or conventionalized prototypical scenarios. It is established that the mechanism of metaphorization is determined by the specifics of the prototypical situation’s semantics and is realized through a complex of features, including implications and associations with negative evaluative connotations.

This paper explores the universal and ethnically specific figurative and evaluative constitutive features of the linguocultural type “Philologist” in Russian and Chinese linguocultures. The analysis focuses on creolized texts circulating in the Internet space that represent the philologist as a professional, typified personality. The findings reveal significant discrepancies in the representation of the philologist’s image across the two linguocultures under study. It has been established that the figurative feature of “appearance,” due to the iconic nature of creolized texts, is the only universal characteristic of the philologist. The study observes that the Russian philologist is predominantly characterized through his or her speech peculiarities, such as mastery of standard language and a desire to instill linguistic correctness in others. In contrast, the Chinese philologist is portrayed primarily in terms of moral and professional qualities. The evaluative component of the creolized texts is also ethnically specific: in Chinese linguoculture, the philologist is depicted as a responsible and wise individual, consistently in a highly positive light, whereas the Russian philologist is characterized by axiological ambivalence—being positively assessed only in terms of self-presentation as a specialist with rare and difficult-to-acquire skills. It is suggested that negative evaluations may stem from the philologist’s pedantry, intolerance of others’ speech errors, and the perceived obsolescence of the profession in contemporary society.

Media culture is a complex phenomenon that includes values, ideologies and worldviews, specificities of the audiences and trust as a basic principle of public and mass communication. The paper presents the results of an empirical study conducted in Bulgaria where 1000 informants have been interviewed by means of an online questionnaire with closed and semi-closed questions using the Likert scale in the designed answers. From the received data there are evidences about significant transformations of the attitudes to the media, especially among the younger generations. One such shift is related to the preference of online news media and social media for the sake of the traditional media. However, the discrepancies in the provided answers to the questionnaire show that there is a huge crisis of media trust among the informants. Moreover, the results prove that some of the respondents can easily be susceptible to disinformation. This means that there is a high necessity of raising the awareness in the digital environment. 

This article undertakes a comprehensive examination of the generic and typological characteristics of Ben Elton’s “Blind Faith” (2007), situating the novel within the broader framework of contemporary British dystopian literature. The study is motivated by the notable scarcity of scholarly attention devoted to this particular work within the field of literary criticism. Employing a combination of genre-typological analysis and close textual reading, the research identifies and interrogates the defining traits of the dystopian genre as manifested in Elton’s narrative. Key analytical criteria include the representation of power structures, the portrayal of authoritarian governance, as well as distinctive compositional and stylistic devices. The originality of this investigation lies in its provision of the first in-depth critical assessment of “Blind Faith”, thereby clarifying its generic identity and establishing its place within the British dystopian tradition. The findings reveal a significant transformation of conventional dystopian motifs within the text. Specifically, the novel exhibits characteristics of both demographic dystopia — evidenced by themes of overpopulation, a pronounced religious subtext involving the profanation of biblical motifs and divine retribution, and the materialization of childhood — and classical dystopia, as reflected in concerns over technological progress and spiritual decline, a distinctive literary code, an elaborate system of imagery, and a reinterpretation of Orwellian Newspeak. On this basis, it is proposed that Elton’s novel be understood as a hybrid or composite variant of the dystopian genre model.

This article examines the process of reactualizing the Siege of Leningrad within contemporary literary and dramatic discourse. The study aims to identify the specific ways in which modern Russian playwrights individually interpret the siege experience. The primary focus is on two 21st-century plays: 67/871 by E. Gremina and Ruins by Yu. Klavdiev, which serve as the central textual sources for analysis. The authors seek to uncover the interpretative potential embedded in the siege theme as manifested in these works. Through a combination of motif-image, contextual-semantic, and intertextual analyses, the research delves into the conceptual level of the plays’ content structures. It is demonstrated that contemporary dramatists are genre-enriching the discourse surrounding the Siege of Leningrad. The analysis reveals that these playwrights engage with historical testimonies in distinct ways, developing innovative methods for transmitting the core conceptual meanings of siege narratives—particularly those related to survival strategies, the preservation or loss of humanity under extreme conditions, and the moral dilemmas posed by catastrophe. The study concludes that the diverse forms of representing the siege theme, as employed by E. Gremina and Yu. Klavdiev, expose the axiological significance of past tragedies for understanding present and future value systems. These representations also establish a vector for the ethical perception of contemporary society and stimulate critical discussion.

This article examines the novellas of Evdokia Nagrodskaya from the 1910s within the context of the Western European tradition of vampire prose. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that for the first time, the novellas “He” and “Mother's Love” reveal a fundamental and genetically determined tradition of gothic prose that shapes the Russian vampire literary canon. It is demonstrated, firstly, that in the novella “He,” infernal imagery serves to articulate the author’s masonic and occult beliefs: a connection with a being from a supernatural, otherworldly realm grants access to “secret” knowledge about humanity, but at the cost of one’s sanity. Secondly, it is argued that in “Mother's Love,” the phenomenon of vampirism acquires characteristics previously absent from Russian vampire literature. The analysis reveals that the struggle against the vampire takes on a pronounced gendered subtext, while its depiction is interwoven with numerous references to Western European traditions. Ultimately, it is shown that in both novellas, encounters with a blood-drinking undead entity — one that transcends the boundary between life and death and possesses occult knowledge (as does the antihero in “He”) — never result in a favorable outcome for the victim. 

This article offers a comprehensive examination of the diverse trajectories of Russian reception of William Blake’s epic poem Milton (1804–1811). The critical reception of the poem is analyzed in detail, beginning with its first mention in Russian scholarship in 1897 in an article by Z. A. Vengerova, followed by brief discussions by Soviet-era scholars such as M. N. Gutner, A. A. Elistratova, and E. A. Nekrasova. The poem was later subjected to more thorough study by T. N. Vasilieva in the 1960s and G. A. Tokareva in the 2000s, both of whom placed it within the broader context of Blake’s oeuvre. The article traces the evolution of scholarly approaches: whereas Soviet criticism emphasized Blake’s affiliation with “progressive Romanticism,” contemporary research is increasingly focused on the poet’s mythology, particularly as it is manifested in Milton, which has attracted the attention of traditionalist thinkers. The creative reception of the poem is also explored, with particular attention devoted to its earliest object of artistic reinterpretation — the passage beginning with the famous lines “And did those feet in ancient time…”. The article establishes clear allusions to this passage in S. Ya. Marshak’s poem “Jerusalem” (1918) and in N. S. Gumilev’s “In Memory” (1920). Furthermore, the translational reception of Milton is shown to have commenced with Marshak’s interpretation of this very excerpt in 1918, followed by subsequent translations of selected fragments — primarily the same passage — by other Russian literary figures. It is noted that the first complete Russian translation of Milton was undertaken by D. N. Smirnov and published only in 2021 as a bilingual edition, accompanied by extensive commentary.

The relevance of this study stems from its focus on the onomastic discourse surrounding Lenin in the fiction of L. Dobychin. The article investigates the mechanisms of linguistic play with Lenin’s name as deployed in the author’s short stories. The research draws upon Dobychin’s collected works, his correspondence, and a wide range of literary and linguistic scholarship on the cult of Lenin and the phenomenon of language games. Special attention is given to the ironic and often subversive insertion of the Lenin myth into traditional Christian imagery and cultural memory. The paper presents a comparative analysis of various techniques of semanticized, original, and sacralizing-profanizing wordplay. It demonstrates how Lenin’s name operates as a textual sign that structures multiple narrative levels. The analysis reveals that puns — including phonetic plays, paronomasia, anagrams, and intertextual allusions — serve to subtly deconstruct the official cult of the leader. The study establishes that the recurrence of the name across different narratives contributes to the formation of a distinctive ritualistic language characteristic of the epoch. The authors conclude that in Dobychin’s prose, the Lenin anthroponym loses its sacred status and is transformed into an element of ritualistic “speech noise.” The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive and detailed description of the system of linguistic play with Lenin’s name as a defining feature of Dobychin’s individual literary style.

This article offers an in-depth analysis of the political influence exercised by women on the history of the Aq Qoyunlu state. The study focuses on the participation of khatuns—wives and mothers of rulers — in both domestic and foreign policy, as well as their roles in diplomatic and dynastic affairs. The research is based on contemporary written sources and modern scholarship on the history of Turkic peoples. New data on the diplomatic activities of Saray-Khatun and Despina-Khatun are introduced into academic discourse, along with an assessment of their impact on the balance of power within the state. Special attention is given to the unique position of women at the Aq Qoyunlu court and their involvement in strategic decision-making processes. The article also explores the significance of dynastic marriages as instruments for consolidating authority and advancing foreign policy objectives. It is demonstrated that Saray-Khatun played a pivotal role in mediating conflicts among her sons and in conducting diplomatic negotiations with neighboring powers. Furthermore, Despina-Khatun (Kirya Katerina), despite her Christian background, managed to secure a prominent position at a Muslim court and actively participated in international correspondence. The study establishes that both marriages — those of Saray-Khatun and Despina-Khatun — were of strategic importance to the Aq Qoyunlu. It is concluded that these women not only supported internal stability but also contributed to the formation of new political alliances. Ultimately, the article argues that the khatuns of the Aq Qoyunlu were not merely consorts of rulers but independent and influential political actors who left a lasting imprint on the history of their state.

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the transformation of Cambodia’s higher education system during the early twenty-first century. The study seeks to substantiate the hypothesis that, despite vigorous modernization efforts, the development of the country’s higher education sector remains contradictory, characterized by formal achievements alongside persistent systemic challenges. The research demonstrates that the principal issues facing contemporary Cambodian higher education include relatively low teaching and curricular standards, a weak alignment between academic programs and labor market demands, a shortage of highly qualified academic personnel, and insufficient state funding for universities. It is argued that a number of government initiatives — such as the adoption of a Higher Education Development Strategy, the establishment of an Accreditation Committee, and the expansion of private higher education institutions — are largely declarative in nature and fail to address fundamental structural deficiencies. A significant obstacle to comprehensive modernization is identified as the limited institutional autonomy of universities, which constrains their ability to adapt flexibly to emerging challenges. Furthermore, the analysis highlights that the Royal Government’s focus on bureaucratic oversight of higher education institutions, combined with financial constraints, limits broad access to tertiary education for Cambodian graduates.

This article examines the issue of administrative integration of Yakutia into the Russian Empire during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The focus of the research is on the challenges of staffing the administrative apparatus in one of the most remote and climatically challenging regions of the empire. The study reveals that the imperial center implemented a targeted policy aimed at attracting and retaining officials, which included a range of benefits and privileges. The main instruments of this policy were guaranteed accelerated promotion, substantial one-time payments (such as travel and relocation allowances), and special pension regulations. Through specific examples of personnel appointments, it is shown that for many officials, service in Yakutia became a form of compensatory career advancement. The article argues that this policy represented a complex interplay of formal legislative norms and flexible personal decisions, which sometimes led to bureaucratic paradoxes. Nevertheless, the system proved to be generally effective. The  author concludes that a stable corps of civil officials was established in Yakutia, consisting largely of appointees from other parts of the empire.

This article examines the evolution of the anti-colonial policy pursued by the Communist International (Comintern) in sub-Saharan Africa during the 1920s and 1930s. It explores the mechanisms through which the Comintern sought to integrate class-based politics with the imperatives of national and racial liberation. The research is grounded in a wide array of archival sources, including Comintern documents, reports of its representatives, correspondence, and resolutions. The study traces the formation and development of the organizational infrastructure for anti-colonial work in sub-Saharan Africa. Methodologically, the article relies on structural and content analysis of primary documentation, as well as comparative analysis of the Comintern’s political rhetoric and that of contemporary anti-colonial movements. The findings demonstrate that the incorporation of the so-called “Negro Question” onto the agenda of the Executive Committee of the Communist International (ECCI) in 1921 marked the beginning of institutionalization of African affairs: first, through the establishment of the Bureau of Colonial Countries, followed by specialized bodies for work among Africans and the African diaspora, and culminating by the late 1920s in the creation of the International Trade Union Committee of Negro Workers as a transnational channel for mobilization and communication. The article argues that the Comintern developed a distinctive set of organizational and media tools for anti-colonial activism in sub-Saharan Africa, proposing a model that linked class struggle with anti-racism and self-determination, thereby contributing to a significant cultural and political platform.

This article examines the temporal parallels between Soviet state policy in the field of history education and the rise of Nazism in Germany during the 1920s and early 1940s. It is demonstrated that the intensification of history instruction in Soviet educational institutions correlated with key stages in the consolidation of power by Hitler’s party. The authors argue that the Nazi seizure of power in 1933–1934 marked a turning point, after which the discipline of “History” was introduced as a mandatory subject across all educational establishments in the USSR. The reform was implemented at an accelerated pace and continued throughout the Great Patriotic War, adapting to developments on the Eastern Front. The research draws on normative educational acts from the 1920s–1940s and archival documents from the State Archive of the Khorezm Region. The methodology combines Vilfredo Pareto’s theory of “non-logical action” with scholarly approaches to ideology formation based on the construction of a common external enemy. The authors conclude that the Soviet experience underscores not only the importance of historical knowledge for fostering stable patriotic values, but also the necessity of proactive state policy aimed at promptly identifying and responding to emerging ideological threats in neighboring states, thereby consolidating society to counter potential dangers.

This article examines the evolution of the Soviet Union’s image in British periodicals during World War II (1939–1945). The study is particularly relevant in light of contemporary Western attempts to revise the decisive role of the USSR in the defeat of Nazism. The research aims to identify the key stages in the transformation of the Soviet Union’s image, influenced by various political and military factors. The sources include both leading national and regional British print media, with many historical documents introduced into academic discourse for the first time, offering fresh insights for Russian readers. The analysis demonstrates how the portrayal of the USSR underwent a complex evolution — from a potential ally, to an aggressor, and finally to an “indomitable ally.” It is shown that in 1944–1945, as victory approached, British public discourse began to adjust, increasingly framing the Soviet contribution as contingent upon Allied assistance. The author concludes that the shifts in the Soviet image were directly correlated with the course of military events and the prevailing political climate. The research is situated within the framework of imagology, a relatively new direction in historical scholarship.

This article explores the conceptual frameworks underpinning international humanitarian cooperation, with a particular focus on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched by China in 2013. The initiative is examined as a comprehensive effort to establish extensive economic, cultural, and political linkages across the majority of Eurasian states. The authors trace the historical roots of the concept of humanitarian cooperation, demonstrating that contemporary Chinese policymakers have drawn significantly from China’s rich political, philosophical, and cultural heritage, notably the teachings of Confucius and Laozi. Furthermore, the study reveals that modern Chinese scholars interpret the principles of international humanitarian cooperation through the lens of traditional Chinese approaches to interstate relations. The authors argue that this interpretative framework constitutes a legitimate and foundational element of contemporary China’s foreign policy doctrine.

Drawing on extensive archival research, this article examines the establishment of the first pharmaceutical garden in Yekaterinburg under the direction of Chief Pharmacist Ludwig Christian Meynders, a German specialist who arrived in the Urals in August 1738. The study demonstrates that the garden was laid out in the spring of 1739 and initially stocked with seeds purchased by Meynders at his own expense en route to Yekaterinburg. From 1740 onward, Meynders began to utilize seeds from plants cultivated in the garden itself. For the first time, the article identifies the range of cultivated species, which included poppy, hyssop, lemon balm, nasturtium, marjoram, lovage, sage, savory, mint, aquilegia, althaea, mallow, fern, and others. The research presents data on the annual cost savings achieved by ceasing to import medicinal herbs from Moscow pharmacies between 1738 and 1744. It also traces the expansion of both the search for medicinal plants and the variety of species grown in the garden during the 1740s. The article details the locations and conditions for storing harvested plants, as well as measures taken to improve irrigation and overall care of the garden plots. It is shown that Meynders compiled the first herbarium of medicinal plants collected in the Urals and grown in the garden, which he used for the training of apprentice pharmacists. The study concludes that this pharmaceutical garden — the first of its kind in the Urals and Siberia — played a crucial role in supplying medicinal supplies to the Yekaterinburg hospital and other state-run hospital facilities at industrial plants across the region.

This article examines the process of recruiting personnel for the zemstvo and municipal self-government institutions of Ufa Gubernia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For the first time, the authors utilize “labor demand” advertisements published by the Ufa Zemstvo in all-Russian periodicals, as well as candidates’ résumés. Additionally, archival correspondence between zemstvo and municipal administrations and prospective employees is introduced into scholarly discourse. The study finds that recruitment methods varied depending on the specific vacancy. It is concluded that, for lower-level positions, patronage on the part of council members and board members remained a widespread practice. At the same time, it is noted that individuals appointed to head municipal enterprises or institutions were expected to possess recommendations from their professional communities. The authors provide a detailed analysis of the recruitment process through socio-political and specialized periodicals. As demonstrated by an examination of the advertisements, local self-government bodies gradually tightened requirements regarding the educational background and professional experience of applicants. It is emphasized that newspaper and journal announcements typically elicited responses from multiple candidates, enabling competitive selection for key positions.

This study examines how Turkey’s external and internal political orientations during the Cold War (1945–1991) shaped the perception of Soviet Russia and Russia in general, as well as how this process was reflected in school history textbooks. The aim of the research is to identify the distinctive features of the image of Russia presented in these textbooks, which evolved under the influence of changes in both domestic and foreign policy during the Cold War. The study also seeks to explain how this image was represented in the discourse of historical education, aligning with the political atmosphere of the time and serving specific objectives. The research material consists of history textbooks used in Turkey’s educational system during the specified period. The results of the content analysis indicate that the narrative about Russia in these textbooks is closely linked to Turkey’s ideological frameworks and foreign policy preferences. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that historical education functions not only as a means of knowledge transmission but also as a tool for shaping collective memory and identity. The paper provides a comparative analysis of how Turkey’s foreign policy orientations, formed under the conditions of the Cold War, as well as internal political and social processes, influenced the representation of Russia and the Soviet Union in history textbooks.