Olesya Vartanyan Analyst, Eastern Neighbourhood Crisis Group Role Olesya Vartanyan is Crisis Group’s Analyst for the EU Eastern Neighbourhood. 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 (Fluent) English (Fluent) Georgian (Advanced) Armenian (Intermediate) In The News 20 Jan 2020 [January] events in Abkhazia come at a time of long-simmering tensions. Civil.ge Olesya Vartanyan Analyst, Eastern Neighbourhood 6 Aug 2018 The current situation does not contribute to the post-war reconciliation [between Russia and Georgia] - it only fuels conflict with an increasing feeling of injustice for [people] living near the dividing line. Al Jazeera Olesya Vartanyan Analyst, Eastern Neighbourhood 2 Aug 2018 The general public sees Mr. Kocharian as a person responsible for accelerating the political stagnation that led to economic decline and social problems in [Armenia]. Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Olesya Vartanyan Analyst, Eastern Neighbourhood 13 Jun 2018 The Georgian government has been in crisis for quite a long time. Mr. Ivanishvili’s comeback and popular protests are just symptoms of this process. The New York Times Olesya Vartanyan Analyst, Eastern Neighbourhood 16 Mar 2018 The guys in the Kremlin can barely deal with Ukraine-related headaches – why add this small plot of land [South Ossetia or Abkhazia] which they already effectively control? The Globe and Mail Olesya Vartanyan Analyst, Eastern Neighbourhood 12 Mar 2018 Over the last three years, we have been seeing a serious decline in the situation in the districts [of South Ossetia] mainly populated by ethnic Georgians. Al Jazeera Olesya Vartanyan Analyst, Eastern Neighbourhood Latest Updates Commentary / Europe & Central Asia 26 April 2018 “Velvet Revolution” Takes Armenia into the Unknown Massive street protests have brought down Armenia’s long-serving leader Serzh Sargsyan. Meanwhile, tensions persist in the unresolved conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. Both Armenia’s new leadership and Azerbaijan must pay attention to avoid triggering a new conflagration along that territory’s volatile front lines. Also available in Русский Op-Ed / Europe & Central Asia 21 February 2018 30 лет оказалось недостаточно для решения карабахской проблемы 30 лет назад началось движение карабахских армян за присоединение к Армении, положившее начало противостоянию с Азербайджаном, конца которому не видно по сей день. Originally published in Netgazeti Op-Ed / Europe & Central Asia 16 October 2017 Rare Summit Meeting on Nagorno-Karabakh Peace A rare meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan on 16 October 2017 could lead to a breakthrough. But the two countries have very different ideas on how to reconcile their competing narratives and goals in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Originally published in JAM News Also available in azərbaycan, Հայերեն, Русский and other languages