After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the “cold war”, there have been significant changes in the “environment” where China interacted: bordering national republics of Central Asia and Russia. The importance of Central Asia to China determined the problem of ensuring the energy security of China, the struggle against separatism, inter-regional trade, and development of transit potential. Moreover, Central Asia was a “field” for cooperation between Russia and China, considered in the context of Russian-Chinese relations. The main task for the Chinese diplomacy has been the formulation of an integrated Central Asian policy.

The article focuses on conceptual and methodological aspects and applicable vectors of the “Cooperation frameworks” laid down in the fundamental documents and implemented by the regional structures for UNESCO in two regions of the Russian Federation - Tatarstan Republic and Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). In the context of modern trends the UNESCO mission in the socio-cultural environment of Russia has been taking on a new special importance. Through a systemic approach as a methodological research principle the article analyzes major activities of Tatarstan and Yakutia with regard to cooperating with UNESCO. Some recommendations are made on streamlining the goals achievement machinery and methodologies in the framework of the regional structures for UNESCO. In conclusion some proposals concerning qualitative directions of strengthening cooperation between these regions and UNESCO in the framework of the unique mandate of this international Organization.

The article reviewed approaches to understanding the term “population”, its relation to related concepts: “people”, “multinational people of the Russian Federation”, “peoples in the Russian Federation”. The position is grounded that the population at different levels of public authority is represented in various ways as a subject of authority relations. If the population of the Russian Federation participates in the relations of democracy as a part of the multinational people of the Russian Federation and therefore does not possess an independent political personality, then the population of the subjects of the Russian Federation, represented as a set of peoples in the Russian Federation, residing on the territory of the subject of the Russian Federation, is recognized as political personality in the government relations at the level of the subject of the Russian Federation . The same applies to the population of municipalities, represented as a local community, the bearer of the collective right to exercise local self-government. Accordingly, at the level of the subject of the Russian Federation and at the municipal level, the population can directly act as a subject of bringing to responsibility the bodies of the appropriate level of public authority.

The article examines the issues of legal regulation of the state geological surveillance on the example of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), improving the regulatory framework. The problems of law enforcement are based on the personal experience of the author and the supervisory authorities in the field of subsoil use. The author considers it appropriate to use the broader concept of “mining and geological surveillance”, proposes to make specific changes to the legislation of the Russian Federation. The proposed legislative changes are aimed at preventing environmental damage by supervisory authorities and protecting citizens’ rights to a favorable environment, protecting their health as a result of the activities of subsoil users.

The article presents the results of a study of the process of ensuring that a minor charged with adult accused persons has the right to receive qualified legal assistance if they are involved in investigative actions in the main criminal case. The problematic aspect here is that the criminal procedure law of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation) does not clearly regulate the mechanism for such participation and ensuring the rights provided by law for persons under the age of majority. In this regard, in addition to the identification of problematic issues in this process, recommendations are offered to clarify the mechanism for ensuring the rights of minors in criminal proceedings, including in the form of recommendations for amending the criminal procedure law of the Russian Federation.

The article analyzes the legal status of the indigenous peoples of Alaska through the prism of the provisions of the Alaska Indigenous Land Claims Act (ANCSA) of 1971. The adoption of the Act consolidated equal and partnership relations between the indigenous population and the state. The act became the basis for the formation of the modern administrative system of Alaska, subsoil use and the policy of the federal authorities in relation to the indigenous population of the Arctic.