Olesya Vartanyan Senior Analyst, South Caucasus Crisis Group Role Olesya Vartanyan is Crisis Group’s Senior Analyst for the South Caucasus region. Based in Tbilisi, she researches and produces reports on regional security issues in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, with a particular focus on breakaway regions in the South Caucasus – Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh and South Ossetia. Professional Background Olesya Vartanyan has worked on conflicts in the South Caucasus for more than ten years. Before joining Crisis Group in 2016, Olesya worked as a journalist, with a particular focus on security and conflict-related issues in Georgia and its breakaway regions. With her field reporting during the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, Olesya contributed to the ground-breaking investigations of The New York Times about the origins of the conflict. Enjoying unique access to Abkhazia, for a number of years she covered crisis developments in this region for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. In 2013, Olesya received the first EU Monitoring Mission’s special prize in Peace Journalism. She holds master degrees from the King’s College London’s War Department and from the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs’ Media School. Languages Russian English Georgian Armenian In The News 30 گەڵا 2023 In my meetings with displaced people scattered throughout Armenia … I have not met a single person who is considering returning to Nagorno-Karabakh any time soon. CBC Olesya Vartanyan Senior Analyst, South Caucasus 3 گەڵا 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh is at the center of Armenian identity, and the Russians allowed it to collapse. They lost Armenian society. Al-Monitor Olesya Vartanyan Senior Analyst, South Caucasus 22 ڕەز 2023 It was quite obvious … that any military action [by Azerbaijan] that was to take place in [Nagorno-Karabakh], it would lead to the defeat of the local Armenian side. AP Olesya Vartanyan Senior Analyst, South Caucasus 21 ڕەز 2023 The biggest problem … is what to do with the many displaced [Armenians] who cannot return to the villages that were captured by Azerbaijan [in Nagorno-Karabakh]. The New York Times Olesya Vartanyan Senior Analyst, South Caucasus 12 ڕەز 2023 Russia is now distracted and doesn't want to get involved in any other problem or crisis other than Ukraine. Reuters Olesya Vartanyan Senior Analyst, South Caucasus Latest Updates Podcast / Europe & Central Asia 10 گەڵاڕێزان 2023 The Days After: Humanitarian Crisis and Prospects for Peace in Karabakh and the Region Event Recording / Europe & Central Asia 15 ڕەزبەر 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh: Prospects for De-escalation (Online event, 15 September 2023) Op-Ed / Europe & Central Asia 27 پووشپەڕ 2023 It’s make or break time for Nagorno-Karabakh’s future Q&A / Europe & Central Asia 22 جۆزەردان 2023 New Troubles in Nagorno-Karabakh: Understanding the Lachin Corridor Crisis Podcast / Europe & Central Asia 04 بانەمەڕ 2023 Protests in Georgia and Tbilisi’s Complicated Relationships with Russia and the West Photo Essay / Europe & Central Asia 06 بەفرانبار 2022 Fenced In: Stabilising the Georgia-South Ossetia Separation Line Podcast / Europe & Central Asia 03 سەرماوەز 2022 The Still-Perilous Path Toward Peace Between Armenia and Azerbaijan Q&A / Europe & Central Asia 09 خەرمانان 2022 Warding Off Renewed War in Nagorno-Karabakh Commentary / Europe & Central Asia 18 گەلاوێژ 2022 Türkiye, Armenia Take Tentative Steps toward Normalisation Podcast / Europe & Central Asia 10 پووشپەڕ 2022 Peacemaking After Ukraine: A Look at Nagorno-Karabakh and Libya Commentary / Europe & Central Asia 21 خاکەلێوە 2022 Preserving the OSCE at a Time of War Commentary / Europe & Central Asia 04 خاکەلێوە 2022 In Ukraine, Georgia Sees Powerful and Worrying Parallels Load more