Abstract: This article examines the uniqueness of common law among Altai people with regards to traditions of inheriting the patrimonial ranks; the institution of Zaisanship is being researched. The author thoroughly explores such aspects of the topic as: peculiarities of transferring the administration within the Seok clan; historical legal issues of establishment of the Altai clan aristocracy during the period of Dzungar leadership, as well as during the period after the affiliation of Altai nation into the Russian Empire. Special attention is given to the wealth status of the representative of the ethnic elites. Despite the fact that there are many research conducted on the history and ethnology of Altai people, the inheritance relationships are yet analyzed from the legal perspective. The materials used in this work are somewhat unique, because are partially comprised from the original sources in the course of several expeditions to the Altai Mountains during the period of 2005-2009, and just recently they have been processed. The examination of the common law of the Russian republics is an important step towards understanding the preceding legal concept and preservation of the historical memory.

Abstract: This article examines the uniqueness of the customary law of the residents of Altai Krai pertaining to the traditions of inheriting property. The author analyzes participation of the relatives (spouse and children) in inheritance of the property of the father. The research offers some of the peculiarities of the Institution of Zaysanat among Altaians. In addition to that, the research also addresses the land relations between the Seok tribes of the Altai; influence of the sedentism processes upon the process of research; the specificity of property relations, as well as the order of transfer of prospecting and hunting territories. The author compares the common-patrimonial law with the actual law of the Zaysan administration. Based on the character of modern legal knowledge, the author attempted the organic fusion of elements of legal analysis and historical-cultural and anthropological approaches. The author offers unique information based on the collected field material. The data is collected directly from the sources and informants during several expeditions to the summits of the Altai Mountains throughout 2005-2009, which just now has been processed. Each year there are less and less informants remain, and along with them, we are losing a portion of valuable knowledge. Study of the customary law of Russia’s ethnoses is an important step in understanding the former concept of law and preservation of historical heritage.

Abstract: This article examines the uniqueness of the customary law of the residents of Altai Krai pertaining to the traditions of inheriting property. The author analyzes participation of the relatives (spouse and children) in inheritance of the property of the father. The research offers some of the peculiarities of the Institution of Zaysanat among Altaians. In addition to that, the research also addresses the land relations between the Seok tribes of the Altai; influence of the sedentism processes upon the process of research; the specificity of property relations, as well as the order of transfer of prospecting and hunting territories. The author compares the common-patrimonial law with the actual law of the Zaysan administration. Based on the character of modern legal knowledge, the author attempted the organic fusion of elements of legal analysis and historical-cultural and anthropological approaches. The author offers unique information based on the collected field material. The data is collected directly from the sources and informants during several expeditions to the summits of the Altai Mountains throughout 2005-2009, which just now has been processed. Each year there are less and less informants remain, and along with them, we are losing a portion of valuable knowledge. Study of the customary law of Russia’s ethnoses is an important step in understanding the former concept of law and preservation of historical heritage.

Abstract: In the present article the author considers ways of national self-determination of the Altai people within the movement of Burkhanism. Under the influence of historical events, the national choice of Mountain Altai moved from aspiration to ethnic self-determination on the religious base, to national politically registration of idea of independent Mountain Altai. The author, considers the deep reasons and a confessional situation in the foreign environment. Specifics of the public relations of the population of Mountain Altai at the beginning of the XX century are opened. The interrelation of events in the context of historical memory and national and cultural mentality of the Altai people is shown. Proceeding from nature of modern historical and legal knowledge, the author aspired to organic compound of elements of the social analysis, cultural and anthropological approach. The general scientific principles of historicism and objectivity were the basis for research. Scientific novelty is that in the offered research, the religious way of self-identification in the territory of Mountain Altai, is presented as uniform - continuous ethnonational search. Ways of national self-determination of the Altai people at the beginning of the XX century, are considered not only in a complex that earlier wasn't undertaken, but the main thing – with reflection of internal essence of the occurring events and the phenomena.