The conference on the subject of military Oriental studies has been regularly held at the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts RAS since 2015. The first and second conferences were dedicated to the outstanding military commander and Orientalist A.E. Snesarev (1865–1937). In 2026 the conference is dedicated to the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. Dealing with practical matters of foreign policy and defence, Russian military Orientalists made a great contribution to world science and development of Oriental studies. A significant part of their scholarly heritage consists of unique archives with valuable information on different subject areas (geography, history, social and economic history, ethnography, linguistics, material and spiritual culture of Oriental peoples). The goal of the conference is to discuss research results dealing with biographies and careers, published and unpublished heritage of outstanding Russian military Orientalists and also to discuss future prospects of this unique branch of Russian scholarship.

The following topics will be discussed at the conference:

- the history of military Oriental studies in Russia;
- interaction of Russian military Orientalists with the Russian Academy of Sciences and academic societies;
- biographies of military Orientalists and their research;
- scholarly heritage of military Orientalists and its role in the development of Oriental studies in Russia;
- current development prospects of military Oriental studies.

Participation format: in person; video presentation is also possible (15 min maximum).

Working languages: Russian, English.

To participate in the conference please send applications to M. A. Kozintcev (email: voenvost@mail.ru) by September 15, 2026. The application should include the following information: full name, academic degree, academic title, affiliation and position, e-mail address, phone number, presentation title and a brief abstract (800 characters maximum).

Transportation and accommodation expenses of participants are not covered. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to select materials for the conference.

Organizing Committee Co-Chairs:
I. F. Popova, Corresponding member of the RAS, Doctor of Sciences in History, Director of the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts, RAS
A. A. Kolesnikov, Doctor of Sciences in History, Director of the Center of Eurasian Studies of the Saint Petersburg State University

Deputy Co-Chair:
I.V. Kulganek, Doctor of Sciences in Philology, Chief Researcher, IOM, RAS

Organizing Committee Secretary:
M. A. Kozintcev, Candidate of Sciences in History, Researcher, IOM, RAS

Organizing Committee Member:
Ye. Yu. Yanushkevich, Junior Researcher, IOM, RAS

Address of the Organizing Committee:
The Institute of Oriental Manuscripts, RAS
18, Dvortsovaya embankment, 191181, Saint Petersburg, Russia.