Chair, Department of Caucasus Studies, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences

Corr. member, Russian Academy of Sciences (1990); Dr. Hist. (1970, Institute of Ethnography, USSR Academy of Sciences); Cand. Hist. (1962, Institute of Ethnography, USSR Academy of Sciences); Institute of Oriental Studies (1954). Since 1957 on permanent staff of the Institute of Ethnography, USSR Academy of Sciences (after 1990, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences). In 1970–2000 taught at Moscow State University and delivered lectures at universities in Cambridge, Pittsburgh, Washington, Stanford, Berkeley, Sapporo and other places. Author of over 400 works including 15 books (personal and co-authored). Scholarly interests: historical ethnography of Asian peoples, contemporary ethnic and linguistic situation in the Caucasus, migrations, ethnicity and its impact on cultural and social identity.