Baku State University

This study analyzes, in the context of international relations and security dynamics, the asymmetric threats posed by short-range unmanned aerial vehicles in 21st-century military operations and the use of directed-energy-based weapons-especially laser technologies-as one of the effective countermeasures. The article shows that the operational and financial resilience of traditional kinetic air defense systems is weakened in the face of mass "saturation" attacks and the economic paradox of "cheap targetsexpensive responses." Drawing on Robert Jervis's offense-defense balance approach and Martin Shaw's concept of risk transfer, the study examines how laser weapons affect the global balance of power, how they reshape the security dilemma, and what gaps and ambiguities arise in international legal regulation. Based on a comparison of empirical cases such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Red Sea crisis, the study concludes that a more realistic approach for future defense strategies is a hybrid, multi-layered defense architecture in which laser and missile systems, together with other means, complement one another. However, the operational effectiveness of lasers may be conditioned by factors such as atmospheric conditions, direct line-of-sight to the target, and constraints related to power supply and logistics. The findings indicate that the accelerated spread of laser technologies is shaping interstate arms competition not only in terms of numerical growth, but also in terms of quality, integration, and operational adaptability.

The Zangezur corridor possesses socio-economic, geopolitical and geostrategic characteristics connecting Central Asia, the Caspian region, Azerbaijan and Armenia with Turkey. This suggests that the corridor, which will expand the transport-logistics network between Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia and Armenia, will positively impact regional trade and play an important role in establishing economic cooperation in the South Caucasus. The Zangezur corridor is redrawing the economic and transport map of the South Caucasus. This project significantly increases Azerbaijan's geo-economic weight and influence capabilities in the region. By ensuring access to international markets for previously closed and economically isolated territories, regional economic dynamism is revitalized. Thus, Azerbaijan becomes an important logistics center at the intersection of East-West and North-South routes.

Abstract.Relevance. The article examines the March 1918 genocide as one of the decisive turning points in the political self-awareness of the Azerbaijani people and the formation of the national independence ideology. The events that took place in Baku and other regions fundamentally changed the political landscape of the South Caucasus and confronted the Azerbaijani society with the necessity of reassessing its political future.Purpose. The aim of the research is to determine how the March 1918 massacres influenced the transformation of political behaviour and ideological priorities of Azerbaijani national forces, especially the “Musavat” Party, and how these events accelerated the transition from the concept of autonomy within Russia to the idea of full state independence.Results. It has been established that the genocide committed by the Bolshevik–Dashnak coalition not only caused large-scale human losses but also triggered a profound psychological and political shift within Azerbaijani society. The massacres revealed the incompatibility of Azerbaijani national interests with the Bolshevik governance model and demonstrated that security, self-governance, and cultural survival required an independent political structure. It has been determined that after March 1918, the Musavat Party revised its ideological program, gradually abandoning federalist expectations and adopting the political paradigm of a sovereign Azerbaijani state. The results also show that the tragedy strengthened national solidarity, shaped a unified political will, and prepared the ideological foundation for the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.Conclusions. The March 1918 genocide served as a catalyst for the crystallization of the independence idea in Azerbaijani political culture. The events contributed to the formation of national unity and a renewed ideological system based on sovereignty, self-determination, and resistance to external domination. The study highlights that the genocide played a central role in shaping the philosophical and political basis of modern Azerbaijani statehood and remains a key component of national memory.

In recent years, the literary legacy of A. Ferdowsi has once again become a topical issue in the Islamic Republic of Iran within the framework of a "political concept." The fact that traditional sources present him not as a historical figure and literary identity, but as a "cultural passport" of an ethnic group, is both a manipulation of historical sources and a distortion of the role of mythology in cultural and historical development. Considering that much of the research on Ferdowsi's work has been conducted outside of Iran and is considered more scholarly, a bibliographic analysis of copies written and printed in different historical periods is important. Since improvisation and significant elements of mythology are widely reflected in the life scenes and works of figures in classical Iranian literature, it is important to examine this topic within the sociocultural context of the period, using a comparative historical approach. It is known that academic studies of Ferdowsi's work were conducted primarily by Soviet scholars. Unlike Iranian scholars, Soviet studies do not present mythological materials as historical facts. Furthermore, the researchers compared historical sources related to Ferdowsi's work and, using ethnolinguistic analysis, attempted to accurately assess the geographic region and characteristics of the period in which he lived. The goal of this study is to identify and systematize Ferdowsi's historical figure and controversial aspects of his work based on bibliographic materials. The study also examines the literary and historical assessment of Ferdowsi's work and the Shahnameh in different periods, and analyzes the sociopolitical context of this period.

Relevance. In the context of the globalization of science and the transition to a knowledge economy, scientific assessment is acquiring strategic significance as a tool for managing research quality, allocating resources, and shaping scientific policy. In Azerbaijan, the existing scientific assessment model is still in the institutional development stage, requiring further methodological and regulatory improvement. The current assessment system, which relies heavily on quantitative bibliometric indicators, does not fully realize the potential for accounting for the qualitative, applied, and socioeconomic impacts of scientific results. This hinders the improvement of scientific management efficiency and its sustainable international competitiveness. The aim of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of international scientific assessment models, identify the characteristics and challenges of the national assessment system in Azerbaijan, and develop recommendations for the development of a more effective, transparent, and efficient scientific management model. Materials and Methods. The methodological basis of the study was a comparative and institutional analysis, as well as a systemic and structural-functional approach. This study utilizes materials from international organizations (OECD, EU), regulatory acts of the Republic of Azerbaijan, data from scientometric databases, and research by foreign and domestic authors in the fi eld of scientific activity assessment and science management. Results. The main international models for scientific activity assessment are systematized. The Azerbaijani model for scientific activity assessment is analyzed, identifying its institutional advantages and systemic limitations. Recommendations for developing a more effective, transparent, and efficient model for scientific activity management are developed. Conclusions. The need for the Azerbaijani scientific activity assessment system to transition to a multi-level an multi-factor hybrid model combining bibliometric indicators, qualitative expert assessment, and socioeconomic impact indicators is substantiated. The introduction of performance-based funding, strengthening scientific ethics institutions, and the development of a national scientific information database will improve the transparency and quality of assessments, as well as enhance the international competitiveness of national science.

This research focuses on the synthesis and evaluation of novel bitumen additives aimed at improving the performance and durability of asphalt materials. The synthesized additives were characterized using spectroscopic and thermal analysis techniques, such as FTIR and TGA, to determine their structural and thermal properties. Modified bitumen samples were prepared by incorporating different concentrations of the synthesized additive, and their physical, mechanical, and rheological properties were investigated through penetration, softening point, ductility, flash point and dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) tests. Experimental results indicated that the additive significantly enhances the high-temperature stability, reduces temperature susceptibility, and improves the rheological performance of bitumen. Specifically, modified bitumen exhibited increased resistance to rutting, aging, and oxidative degradation compared to conventional bitumen. This improvement in bitumen performance can lead to extended pavement life, reduced maintenance costs, and enhanced sustainability in road construction.

The syntheses and structures of (3aRS,4RS,9aSR)-3-oxo-2-(2-phenyl-eth-yl)-2,3,3a,4,9,9a-hexa-hydro-1H-benzo[f]iso-indole-4-carb-oxy-lic acid, C21H21NO3 (I), (3aRS,4RS,9aSR)-3-oxo-2-(propan-2-yl)-2,3,3a,4,9,9a-hexa-hydro-1H-benzo[f]iso-indole-4-carb-oxy-lic acid, C16H19NO3 (II) and (4RS)-3-oxo-2-phenyl-2,3,4,9-tetra-hydro-1H-benzo[f]iso-indole-4-carb-oxy-lic acid, C19H15NO3 (III), are described. Compound (I) crystallizes with two mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit. In the extended structures of (I), (II) and (III) the mol-ecules are linked by Oc-H⋯Oi (c = carb-oxy-lic acid, i = indole) hydrogen bonds, forming a common C(7) zigzag chain motif propagating along the [010] direction, despite the different local symmetries. These chains are connected by weak C-H⋯O and C-H⋯π inter-actions, forming a three-dimensional network in each case. A Hirshfeld surface analysis was undertaken to investigate and qu-antify the inter-molecular inter-actions, which are dominated by H⋯H, C⋯H/H⋯C and O⋯H/H⋯O contacts in each case.