Riga: A History in Districts
Riga, the capital city of Latvia, boasts a rich history and diverse architectural heritage. Among its many districts, Mežciems, Purvciems, Grīziņkalns, Centrs, and Vecrīga stand…
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Latvia: A Case Study of Colonization and Independence
Latvia is a small country on the Baltic Sea coast. Although it has maintained a distinct language and culture for hundreds of years, it has…
Origins of Russia: Moscow Becomes an Empire (Prehistory to 1584)
Moscow is not just a city. It was a fort that became a city, that became a state, that became an empire, that became a…
Armenia: A Global People
The Modern Republic of Armenia lies in the turbulent south Caucuses. Although the Armenians as a people have existed for thousands of years, they have…
Armenia’s Foreign Policy and Security Issues for 2023
The most important issue in Armenia’s regional relations is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Armenia is a landlocked country flanked by two historical adversaries, Turkey and Azerbaijan,…
Russian Archive Diaries: A Blog
The following are observations by SRAS employees and clients while exploring Russian archives as part of SRAS’ Research Support Services. Entries will cover particularly interesting…
Nagorno-Karabakh: The Volatile Core of the South Caucasus
The Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh is one of four frozen conflicts that emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Legally recognized as a part of…
The Alykul Osmonov National Library of Kyrgyzstan
In 1934, the National Library of Kyrgyzstan was formed following the merging of the Frunze City Library and the Library of the Council of People’s…
Bayalinov Children’s Library in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
The current building housing the K. Bayalinov Library for Children and Youth was built in 1984. It’s located at Ogonbayeva Ataya, 242, near the National…
Kyrgyzstan: A GeoHistory Study Guide
Kyrgyzstan is a small, strikingly mountainous country near the center of the immense Eurasian landmass. Influences from diverse empires can be felt there today: Mongol,…
Georgia: A GeoHistory Study Guide
What Georgia might lack in size it makes up for in personality. Over the millennia, the nation we now call Georgia has been part of…
Uzbekistan: A GeoHistory Study Guide
When the Silk Road passed through Uzbekistan, its cities grew to some of the world’s largest, most prosperous, and most learned. Many of the great…
The Russian State Military Historical Archive: A Guide
The Russian State Military Historical Archive (RGVIA; Российский государственный военно-исторический архив) is one of the largest archives in Russia. Its focus is on documents concerning…
Russian for Wonks: Demographics and Childbirth
Russian demographics have been a major policy issue for the Russian state since its formation in 1991. It has also been well covered in both…
An Introduction to Russian Archives and Archives Abroad
Russian archives are an essential resource for anyone seriously studying Russia. Like any tool, however, one must first know how to use it. This brief…
Russian, US Top Diplomats Meet: In Side-by-Side Translation
Both Russia and the US are testing the waters for a possible meeting between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Today, on…
Renting in Russia: Language, Legalities, and Culture
The word for “landlord” in Russian is actually the same as the word for “host” – . Renting in Russia, whether apartments or rooms, comes…
Putin’s New Year Message to Russians in Translation
While Americans gather around TV screens to watch a ball drop on Times Square to bring in the New Year, Russians gather around to watch…
The Russian State Historical Archive: A Guide
The Russian State Historical Archive (RGIA; Российский государственный исторический архив) is the largest archive in Europe and one of the largest in the world, with…
The Russian State Archive of Contemporary History: A Guide
The Russian State Archive of Contemporary History (Российский государственный архив новейшей истории) was created in the end of August of 1991 on the basis of…
