Abstract: The growing economic and political value of information opens a question not only about the technological development of the state in this area, but also ensuring security from information leakage and other threats to informations security. This article provides the review of major threats to information security in post-Soviet states, analyses of the basic measures of legislative and organizational character to combat them, as well as examines the cooperation of post-Soviet states in the area of ensuring information security within the framework of such organizations as Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Collective Security Treaty Organization. The authors note the existence of the mechanism of multilateral and bilateral character on preventing cybercrime, distribution of religious-extremist materials through social and telecommunication networks, along with limiting the use of Internet for the purpose of intervening the domestic affairs of the states. At the same time, it is necessary to find balance between the measure on preventing the state hazardous information propaganda and the freedom of civic self-expression.

Abstract: The article examines one of the most complex international conflicts of the 21st century, which sparked in the late 1980s and turned into a military confrontation between the conflicting parties in the early 1990s. The process of establishing the OSCE Minsk Group and its mediation mission between the parties to the conflict is analyzed in this work. The so-called "step-by-step" and "package proposal" plans for conflict resolution are considered. It is noted that the parties to the conflict avoid compromise, as this will be regarded by the public as a loss.The methodological basis of the research was made by general academic and specific academic methods of cognition, including analysis and synthesis, generalization, comparison, historical method.The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the South Caucasus region is waiting for its solution, and there is a possibility of reignition of military conflict, which can lead to catastrophic consequences. In conclusion, it is pointed out that the prospects for resolving the conflict do not depend only on the positions of its parties, as the geopolitical, economic and military and strategic interests of Russia, Turkey, Iran, the United States and the EU influence the balance of forces in the region.

Abstract: The article analyzes the prospects of Iran’s relations with the countries of Central Asia and the South Caucasus after the lifting of the Western sanctions. The author studies Iran’s foreign policy towards Central Asia and the South Caucasus, and the current state of bilateral relations with the countries of these regions. In particular, the author analyzes political, economic and cultural relations. The author outlines the factors determining mutual interest of Iran and the countries of the regions in bilateral cooperation. Special attention is given to joint projects in the transport, communications, energy, trade and economic spheres. The research methodology includes both general scientific and specific methods of cognition, for example, analysis and synthesis, system approach and historical method. The author concludes that economics and security are the key elements of Iran’s foreign policy strategy in Central Asia and the South Caucasus. Iran’s cooperation with the countries of these regions can be the most productive in such sectors as trade, energy industry, transport and oil and gas industry. On a long term horizon, such cooperation will be one of Iran’s foreign policy priorities. 

Abstract: This article is dedicated to the analysis of development prospect of natural gas industry of the Republic of Azerbaijan that traditionally takes on the role of the exporter of oil and petroleum products, as well as seeks to strengthen its role as a natural gas exporter. The authors examine the country’s mineral resource potential along with the dynamics of such indexes as the extraction, consumption, demand for natural gas and its export in Azerbaijan and the world. The article explores the key natural gas fields (Azeri–Chirag–Gunashli, and Shah Deniz), gas transportation infrastructure of Azerbaijan, and the project on its development. In conclusion, the authors determine the two directions in development of natural gas industry in Azerbaijan: orientation towards domestic consumption and integration in the world market. The European and Asian regions are considered as the most promising directions for the increase in gas supply. The authors highlight that the role of Azerbaijan as a supplier of natural gas will grow due to exploitation of the deposits, as well as expansion of the export infrastructure.

Abstract: The article analyzes energy projects in electric power and gas industry involving the countries of Central Asia. Particularly, the authors study the reasons, which determine the interest in interregional projects both of the countries of Central Asia and the customers, such as China, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The authors analyze the projects’ benefits for the participating countries, and the obstacles appearing during their realization. The research methodology includes such approaches as analysis and synthesis, comparison, the system approach and the historical method. The authors conclude that these projects improve regional energy security in general and energy security of participating countries in particular. Competition between the projects is determined by geopolitical ambitions of China and the USA. The key obstacles of realization of the projects include the lack of financing, technical difficulties and instability in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Russian companies can participate in energy projects of the countries of Central Asia as investors, suppliers of equipment or technologies. Russia can also promote the improvement of regional security. 

Abstract: The author analyzes the interactions between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation in the modern era. At the same time, the author gives attention to a retrospective look on the relations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the deputies. In particular, the author examines the role of the foreign affairs departments of the Russian Empire during the period of the First World War. From the first days of the war the Ministry offered practical help to a significant number of fellow citizens caught abroad by the war. On the most pressing issues, such as help to prisoners of war, Russian diplomats had to overcome serious obstacles within the country. In these questions the ally of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the Russian State Duma. The study's main methodology are such methods as the comparative analysis, generalization, induction and deduction, historical method and others. In the conclusion the author comes to the following deductions. As in the previous years, the issue of the cooperation with the Federal Assembly sit at the center of attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, with passing years, the priorities in this area of activity changed. Today in the series of the most pressing issues is the joint action of diplomats and deputies in securing human rights through their role in the UN Human Rights Council, the convention bodies of the UN on human rights and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Abstract: This article examines the question of establishment of the Common European Asylum System. Migration crisis that faced the EU member-states mostly with high level of living standards, demonstrated that there is no solution at the national level. Due to this fact, there is a need for creation of the universal strategy of providing asylum across the entire European Union. The authors analyze the development of idea of the general European approach towards ensuring the international protection and consolidation of tasks on establishment of the Common European Asylum System in the bills of primary and secondary law of EU. Separate attention is given to various programs on the questions of ensuring asylum and development of the European law in this area. The conclusion is made that EU actions in the field of regulation of asylum policy manifests as a complex of measures of the European Union and its member-states aimed ad establishment of the Common European Asylum System. The authors also highlight the key issues and difficulties that impede the completion of establishment of such system.

Abstract: The paper studies the Arctic strategy of the Republic of Korea. The author considers economic and political reasons, urging South Korea to activate its policy in the region. Economic opportunities of the Arctic are connected with energy resources and exploitation of transport routes (the Northern Sea Route), transformation of the ports of South Korea into large logistic centers, and development of shipbuilding. The political aspect of the Arctic strategy is determined by Korea’s aspiration to extend its international influence and to be recognized as a middle power.
The research methodology is based on general scientific and specific research methods: analysis, synthesis, generalization, comparison, the historical and statistical methods. The author concludes that in the Arctic institutions, South Korea positions itself as a middle power, and it is an appropriate country for such a role, taking into account its non-aggressive policy in the region. It is ready to serve as a link between the countries – permanent members of the Arctic council and non-Arctic countries, having interests in the region. 

Abstract: The author analyzes the oil and oil products pipeline transportation system in such European countries as Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Norway and France. The author considers the retrospective aspect of the matter and the current state of oil and oil products transportation infrastructure in these states. The author illustrates the pipeline transport system of each of the countries. This review can serve as a basis for the further study of oil and oil products pipeline market of Europe. The research methodology is based on general scientific and specific research methods: analysis, synthesis, generalization, historical, statistical methods, etc. The author defines the key peculiarities, typical for the pipeline infrastructure of each of the considered European countries. Along with the key pipeline directions of oil and oil products transportation, the author considers oil refineries in these countries and their interrelation with the pipeline infrastructure.