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Author : E. Pyadysheva
Executive Secretary of International Affairs, Candidate of Science (History)
On May 22, the Russian Foreign Ministry saw the presentation of an
issue of the journal Istorichesky vestnik [Historical Herald] entirely de-
voted to Lithuania, Russia and Poland in the 13th and 14th centuries. The
ceremony was sponsored by the journal and the Association of Russian
Diplomats.
The present volume of Istorichesky vestnik covers relationships between
Rus', Lithuania and Poland during a period which fundamentally altered
the map of Eastern Europe. The emergence of the Golden Horde, an
apanage of the Mongol Empire, led to the emergence of new political
centers. One of these centers was Moscow next to which there emerged
another Rus' - the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Rus'. Most of its pop-
ulation called themselves "Russians" or "Rusyns" [Ruthenes] rather than
"Muscovites."
The present volume is a collection of studies done by researchers who looked from various angles at
the unique Lithuanian political system and factors that caused two major states of Eastern Europe -
the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Muscovy - go their separate ways. Istorichesky vestnik presented
the views not only of Russian historians but also of their counterparts in Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania,
and Poland which regard themselves as successors to the medieval state of the Gediminids.
It goes without saying that this topic is very relevant today, especially in the light of what has been
happening of late.
The main criterion for selecting the articles for this issue was their objectivity based on historical
documents.
In his remark on the subject of the present issue, the journal's chief editor A.E. Titkov said that the
contributors from different countries had primarily focused on what was shared by those medieval
nations.
Chairman of the Council of the Association of Russian Diplomats I.V. Khalevinsky described the
issue as a milestone in the world of academia and a valuable source of facts for diplomats.
Istorichesky vestnik is an integral part of the ANO Runivers Publishers global project. According to
Runivers President M.V. Baranov, the project's main objective is to provide free access to authentic
documents, books and texts related to Russian history, which were previously stored in major libraries
and state archives. There is a problem which should be given special attention. The fact is that Russia's
presence in Internet is rather fragmented. It has no key documents in Russian related to history.
The authors argue, for example, that "studying relations between the Kingdom of Poland and the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania is one of the most important areas of study in Polish historiography.
It should be also mentioned that this special issue of Istorichesky vestnik reproduces a number of
some historical documents and images of historical characters.
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The Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Rus' in Istorichesky vestnik