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The article is devoted to history of the first contacts between the Russian Empire and Regency of Tunisia at the end of the 18th century. The research is based on works of the Russian, Tunisian and French historians. In Russia it was Catherine the Great's era, the empress who considerably moved apart borders of the country, expanded the international contacts of Russia, laid the foundation for development of the Russian trade including Mediterranean trade relations. The Tunisian governor Hamuda Pasha also sought for development of international relations and the statement of the authority of the country. Although between Russia and Tunisia at this early stage had not yet been an official contractual relationship, but through the activities of freelance Consulate between the countries established trade, began political and cultural contacts. A special role in the development of Russian-Tunisian relations belongs to the family of the Dutch consuls Nyssens, which became a freelance Russian consuls in Tunis. The article analyzes the causes of weakness of trade relations between Russia and Tunisia, the slow development of political contacts. Special attention is paid to the problem of Mediterranean piracy, in which the main role played the corsairs of Tunis and Algeria. The distance of countries from each other, the difference of scale, cultures and political aspirations did not prevent them to do in the end of the 18th century the first steps towards each other, to establish friendly relations.

The article examines the new realities of Russia's foreign policy after the "Arab Spring" and the potential for increased Russian influence in the Maghreb. One of the consequences of the recent political upheavals in North Africa is the growth of terrorist threat – this factor draws particular attention to this region. The Maghreb is important for the promotion of Russian interests in the Arab world and the African continent. Russia and North Africa are seeking strategic cooperation, and these countries have long-term friendship and mutual interests in the political and economic spheres. Further increase of the interaction will strengthen bilateral relations, will make it easier to survive during the political and economic crisis. The article analyzes the formation, the current state and prospects of Russian-Algerian, Moroccan-Russian and Russian-Tunisian relations. Algeria is one of the leading economic partners of Russia on the African continent. The main areas of bilateral cooperation are the energy and military spheres. The growth of the terrorist threat in the Sahara-Sahel region prompted Russia and Morocco to deepen security cooperation. In the context of EU economic sanctions against Russia a priority in Russian- Tunisian and Russian-Moroccan trade relations is to enhance cooperation in the field of agriculture. Russia is a traditional exporter of Moroccan oranges and Tunisian olive oil. Promising areas of cooperation of Russia and Tunisia are the development of water resources and hydraulic engineering, infrastructure projects in the field of construction of roads, bridges, industrial facilities. Expansion of ties with the North African countries will allow Russia to increase influence in the region.