NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES AND THREATS IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN THE 90s OF THE 20TH CENTURY (ON THE BASIS OF MESSAGES OF THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT B. N. YELTSIN)

The analysis of the concepts «national security», «public safety», «danger», «threat to security», «challenge of national security» is carried out. The author considers the content of Messages of the Russian President of 1993–1999 and reveals country leader’s views on the most significant challenges and threats to national security of Russia in the 90s of the 20th century, as well as dynamics of the changes in the sphere of national security – the most important area of public activities.