Information about the author: 

Abstract:

The article presents an attempt to describe the life of Vladimir Ivanovich Chernyavsky, one of the outstanding Russian scientists of the late 19th – early 20th centuries, who lived in Abkhazia for over forty years. The article examines the main stages of his scientific biography, the material for which is drawn from his works: from his first interest to the world of aquatic invertebrates in high school and Kharkov University to genuine discoveries of dozens of new species of marine life, some of which, as a sign of respect for the honored scientist, were named after him. The article outlines a wide range of Chernyavsky’s research interests (zoology, archeology, local history, geography, ethnography), conditioned by the unique nature and rich historical past of Abkhazia, which he tirelessly explored and popularized, becoming a pioneer in the development of many branches of knowledge. His energetic efforts in exploring the Caucasian coast of the Black Sea and the arrangement of the historical and local history museum in Sukhum are emphasized. The article notes Chernyavsky’s merits in the development of Abkhaz studies and the grateful memory of him that is still preserved in Abkhazia.