ИСТИНА

This paper is devoted to consideration and analysis of ethnic, linguistic, confessional and cultural patterns of regional development in Russian Federation. The topics of research include: 1) historical framework of ethnic settlement and ethnic identity patterns in Russia and their dynamics at the close of the 20th – beginning of the 21st centuries; 2) linguistic diversity of the country and spatial linguistic distinctions within the Russian Federation; 3) confessional landscape of Russia; mosaics of confessional groups within the Russian Federation in spatial dimension; their spatial redistribution; 4) Phenomenon of regional / local identity as one of the key driving forces of cultural regionalism in Russia.