Shujaat Ahmadzada

Shujaat Ahmadzada is an independent researcher with expertise in foreign and security policies of the South Caucasus countries, Russia and Turkey. He holds MA in Central and East European, Russian and Eurasian Studies from the University of Glasgow (UK) and BA in International Relations from the Academy of Public Administration (Azerbaijan). 

Lara Setrakian

Lara Setrakian is an award-winning journalist and the President of the Applied Policy Research Institute of Armenia, an independent, nonpartisan think tank based in Yerevan. Her work focuses on advancing regional stability, sustainable prosperity, and civic engagement in the South Caucasus. She is also the Co-Founder of News Deeply, an innovative digital media company focused on critical global issues.

Amb. John M. Evans

Ambassador John M. Evans is a career foreign service officer having served over 30 years and having held the title of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia between 2004 and 2006. Following his many years in government, Evans has volunteered for the Children of Armenia Fund, which delivers state-of-the-art education, health and social services to rural communities in the Republic of Armenia.

Anatol Lieven (Moderator) 

Anatol Lieven directs the Eurasia Program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. He was formerly a professor at Georgetown University in Qatar and in the War Studies Department of King’s College London. From 1985 to 1998, Lieven worked as a journalist in South Asia, the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and covered the wars in Afghanistan, Chechnya and the southern Caucasus.