Dear readers,

When the journal Russkii vopros emerged on computer screens in 2001, it was written in this column, that it would be better, for Russia and the whole world, if it were titled the Russian reply than Russian question. Members of the first editorial board could hardly imagine that a relatively new Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had come into power one year ago, would be able to nearly fulfil their bon mot.
     During Putin´s presidency Russia indeed gave an answer, to itself and the surrounding world, of the question where it wanted to be led. However, we can dislike this choice it is necessary to respect the reality. Russian people are not worried by a reached result. We can even say that a lot of them feel comfortable in present day Russia. The same cannot be said about the feelings of majority of peoples living in neighbouring countries. The echo of Russian answer, which was given by Putin, is here very load and intensive.
     Therefore the title of journal has not been altered; however, it has gone through graphic and content changes. The journal will be more devoted to the situation in countries like Belarus, Georgia or Ukraine. Certainly, Russia itself will not disappear from these journal pages but this research subject will be slightly more narrow than before. This fact in particular has been caused by above mentioned Putin´s transformation of Russian question into ANSWER. It is difficult to say if it is fortune or misfortune but Putin was not able to give a complete answer hence several questions have remained and are calling to be answered.
     In this context a historical attitude could be useful therefore the journal will provide more space for historical contributions which should help us better understanding current Russian reality. To support this orientation of research Russkii vopros is going to publish crucial documents connecting with Russian foreign and security policy since 1991 in new column titled Documents.
     Russkii vopros wants henceforth to be a forum for broad explanation keeping with substantional condition: every oppinion has to regard fundamental ethical rules and respect to any individual. We recall to our authors they can sen us their contributions in English or Russian languages in extent 45 000 characters as maximum.