Ekaterina Sokirianskaia Project Director, Russia & North Caucasus Please submit all media inquiries to ksokirianskaia@crisisgroup.org or call +32 (0) 2 536 00 71 Crisis Group Role As Crisis Group’s Russia & North Caucasus Project Director, Ekaterina supervises the organisation’s activities and advocacy efforts in the region. Professional Background Before joining Crisis Group, she served as Supervisor of Programs for the Memorial Human Rights Center Executive in Republics of Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria and as Head of the Office for the Memorial Human Rights Centre in Grozny and Chechen Republic from 2007 to 2008. Prior to that, she was a Researcher and Programs Supervisor for the Republic of Ingushetia, Chechen Republic and Republic of North Ossetia based in the region between 2003-2008. Between 2008-2011 Sokirianskaia has supervised Memorial research and programs in the Republics of Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria. Ekaterina holds a Ph.D. in political science from Central European University and has taught courses as Assistant Professor at Chechen State University in Grozny. She is the author of numerous publications, public lectures and successful short documentaries on conflict, human rights, jihadism, terrorism and security in the North Caucasus and Russia. Between 2011-2014 Ekaterina was a member of the Expert Council with the Ombudsman of the Russian Federation and a Board Member of International Memorial. In The News 21 Apr 2017 This society [in Chechnya and the mostly Muslim areas of the Caucasus region] is highly homophobic. Homosexuality is condemned. It is believed Islam considers it a great sin. The New York Times Ekaterina Sokirianskaia Project Director, Russia & North Caucasus 1 Apr 2017 [There were] numerous, numerous signals [about detentions and violence toward gay men in Chechnya]. It came from too many sources not to be true. The New York Times Ekaterina Sokirianskaia Project Director, Russia & North Caucasus 9 Feb 2017 [Local barons in Russia's republics often] consolidate their positions in ministries, place their friends and relations in important posts and use various corrupt practices to siphon off resources. Open Democracy Ekaterina Sokirianskaia Project Director, Russia & North Caucasus 6 Feb 2017 Fighting on the side of Assad is something that Chechens are reluctant to do as a whole. The Independent Ekaterina Sokirianskaia Project Director, Russia & North Caucasus 1 Feb 2017 The Russian government understands very well the condition of the Syrian army and their capacity to really govern in [the Sunni areas]. They need to maintain what they have already gained. The Wall Street Journal Ekaterina Sokirianskaia Project Director, Russia & North Caucasus 16 Jan 2017 [Ramzan Kadyrov, Head of the Chechen Republic] knows very well that if there is no Putin in the Kremlin, there will be no Kadyrov in Grozny. Open Democracy Ekaterina Sokirianskaia Project Director, Russia & North Caucasus Latest Updates Op-Ed / Europe & Central Asia 3 May 2017 Chechnya’s Anti-Gay Pogrom Originally published in The New York Times Op-Ed / Europe & Central Asia 22 March 2017 Vladimir Putin Has One Reliable Set of Allies: Russia’s Iron Ladies The president’s useful anti-feminists legitimise a slide towards a patriarchal society – and offer no political challenge to his macho leadership. Originally published in The Guardian Commentary / Europe & Central Asia 4 July 2016 The Struggle with Islamic State that Turkey Hoped to Avoid In this Q&A, Crisis Group tapped the views of its Project Director and Analyst in Turkey, Nigar Göksel and Berkay Mandıracı, as well as its Russia and the North Caucasus Project Director, Ekaterina Sokirianskaia. Op-Ed / Europe & Central Asia 2 July 2016 Теракт в Стамбуле: россияне под подозрением Originally published in Новая Газета Commentary / Europe & Central Asia 9 June 2016 Women in the North Caucasus Conflicts: An Under-reported Plight Women in the Russian republic of Chechnya have never been under such pressure as they are today. Yet not much has been written about their role, their place in society, and their rights in Chechnya and in other North Caucasus conflicts. Load more