Dr. Aijan SharshenovaLink opens in a new window, SHAPEDEM-EULink opens in a new window Research Fellow, participated in a roundtable discussion on the future of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Central Asia. The event was hosted by Hollings CenterLink opens in a new window, a US-based think tank, and Bourse and Bazaar FoundationLink opens in a new window, a UK-based think tank, in Istanbul on November 16-17, 2024. The event brought together Central Asian and Middle Eastern political analysts, energy experts and economists to brainstorm interregional cooperation in the run-up to the GCC-C5 Summit in Samarkand next year.

Dr. Aijan SharshenovaLink opens in a new window, SHAPEDEM-EULink opens in a new window research fellow, started a month-long in-residence visiting fellowship at the Eureast Platform at the University of Ghent. The EureastLink opens in a new window Platform engages in academic collaboration with academics from Eastern Europe and Eureasia. Aijan will present her ongoing work on academic positionality, self-censorship and resilience in Central Asia.

Professor Korosteleva and Dr Hansbury represented the WUB-hub on 28 August at the Foreign Office London when briefing a new Head of Mission appointed for Belarus. During the roundtable inter alia the issues of democratic political structures, foreign policy, and civil society developments were discussed.