Book Review: The sea in Russian strategy (by Yeghia Tashjian)

The sea in Russian strategy Edited by Andrew Monaghan and Richard Connolly Publisher: Manchester University Press (August 2023) 272 pages, English $21.95 Understanding Russia’s foreign policy or strategy in the post-Ukraine war era may be complex to most of us. Reading a few articles

Reflections from the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum 2023 (by Yeghia Tashjian)

From June 14-17, 2023, I had the opportunity to participate in a program organized by the “Friends for Leadership” at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum. Thousands of delegates, primarily from Latin America, Africa and Asia, attended the forum alongside heads of state,

After Nagorno-Karabakh, Iran may be next (by Yeghia Tashjian)

Political relations between Azerbaijan and Iran are deteriorating amid signs of closer security and diplomatic cooperation between Baku and Tel Aviv. Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen’s comments to reporters in Jerusalem on March 29 about his “agreement” with his Azerbaijani counterpart to form

Russia, INSTC and Regional Trade Interconnectivity (by Yeghia Tashjian)

The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a 7,200 kilometer model of ship network, rail and road project, was initiated in 2000 by Russia, Iran and India to facilitate trade between India, Russia and Europe. Azerbaijan, Armenia and other countries joined the initiative in

What is the Kurdish-led HDP’s position on Turkey’s elections? (by Yeghia Tashjian)

CHP chairman and presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu (center) with HDP co-chairs Pervin Buldan (left) and Mithat Sancar (right), March 20, 2023 (Photo: Official website of the Peoples’ Democratic Party) On March 22, 2023, following a meeting with CHP leader and joint opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu,

How Iran perceives the developments in Artsakh (by Yeghia Tashjian & Zhanna Vardanyan)

As Russia and Western powers seek to compete in the South Caucasus, many analysts neglect the role of Iran in the region. After the 2020 war and the signing of the November 9 trilateral statement, Iran realized that its geo-economic and geopolitical interests

Armenians of Pyatigorsk (by Yeghia Tashjian)

Weekly columnist Yeghia Tashjian outside St. Sarkis Church in Pyatigorsk, Russia, November 10, 2022 Between November 7-12, 2022, I was invited by the Primakov Center to participate in the “Russia – Middle East” International Expert Forum at the Southern Russian city of Pyatigorsk.

The Husseyniyyun: Iran’s New Gamble in Azerbaijan? (by Yeghia Tashjian)

Background of Religious Persecution in Azerbaijan Despite being a Shia Muslim majority country, the ruling regime of Ilham Aliyev regularly and aggressively enforces secularism on the population of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijanis are forbidden to study in foreign Shia seminaries (hawza). Women are discouraged and

Book Review: The Armenians of Aintab (by Yeghia Tashjian)

The Armenians of Aintab: The Economics of Genocide in an Ottoman Province By Ümit Kurt Harvard University Press, April 2021 400 pp. $45.00 As an Aintabtsi Armenian, Dr. Ümit Kurt’s book The Armenians of Aintab; The Economics of Genocide in an Ottoman Province pushed me

Can Armenians agree on a unified strategy? (by Yeghia Tashjian)

Yeghia Tashjian at the II International Expert Forum “Russia-Middle East” organized by the Primakov Center for International Cooperation at the Pyatigorsk State University, Russia, November 7-10, 2022 Over the past few weeks, I participated in multiple international and regional workshops and conferences in