The Annual 2015 continues the series of books under this title which is
being published since 2012. A specific feature of the current issue is
that a number of articles appears to be the materials presented by the
participants of the International scientific conference 'Minorities and
Conflicts: Asian and African States in the Modern World' hosted by the
Department of Asian and African Studies and the Centre for Asian and
African Studies at the Higher School of Economics - St. Petersburg on
October 9-10, 2015. Along with that, the Annual retains its traditional
sections. With the greatest pleasure we present to the readers'
attention an article in the 'In Memoriam' section devoted to an
outstanding orientalist, arche-ologist and historian Alexander M.
Belenitskii (1904-1993) who was the head of archaeological excava-tions
of ancient Panjakent for 15 years. His work 'Mittelasien. Kunst Der
Sogden' published in Germany in 1980 is still recognized as an
invaluable in its scientific significance research of Central Asian
culture.