These are the audio recordings for Kennan Institute public events held at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. More information about the individual events and upcoming meetings can be found here: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/program-events/Kennan%20Institute/153. For questions or requests, please email kennan@wilsoncenter.org. 

Kennan Institute Events

Forged in war and ideological battle, relations between Pyongyang and Moscow have been shaped by shared strategic interests, as well as feelings of perceived betrayal. How does the past affect relations between Pyongyang and Moscow today? Where are their interests aligned and where do they diverge? On May 19, Andrei Lankov, Director of NK News and Professor at Kookmin University in Seoul joined us for a conversation on North Korean-Russian relations.

Speakers:
Andrei Lankov - Professor of History at Kookmin University in Seoul, South Korea

Jean H. Lee - Director, Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy; Journalist and former Pyongyang Bureau Chief, Associated Press

Moderator:
Matthew Rojansky - Director, Kennan Institute

05/19/2021 - Global Perspectives: North Korean-Russian Relations

One of the key figures in the Russian opposition, Lyubov Sobol has encountered many of the well-known experiences of Russia’s political life: from electoral campaigns and street protests to hunger strikes and criminal trials. For many people, she represents the new generation of Russian leaders, which has a vision for the country’s future, but faces insurmountable obstacles on the path to public office. In her talk, Lyubov Sobol shared her experience as an independent politician and discussed what developments one can expect in Russian domestic politics in the run-up to the September 2021 elections and beyond.

Speaker:
Lyubov Sobol - Russian Political and Public Figure; Lawyer, Anti-Corruption Foundation; Producer, Navalny LIVE YouTube Channel

Moderator:
Matthew Rojansky - Director, Kennan Institute

06/02/2021 - Forging a New Path in Russian Politics: A Conversation with Lyubov Sobol [English]

06/02/2021 - Forging a New Path in Russian Politics: A Conversation with Lyubov Sobol [Russian]

On April 23, the popular Russian-language media outlet Meduza was labeled a “foreign agent” by the Russian Ministry of Justice and suddenly faced all the risks and problems associated with this status, including the loss of advertising income. Three weeks later, Meduza, which is headquartered in Riga, Latvia, reported that nearly 80,000 people had joined the crowdfunding initiative to save it. Galina Timchenko, a prominent Russian journalist and CEO of Meduza, considered what new challenges to free speech the Russian media are currently up against, how government pressure affects today’s media development trends, and what motivates independent journalists to continue working.

06/07/2021 - Challenges to Russia's Independent Media: A Conversation with Meduza's Galina Timchenko

WNBA player Brittney Griner has been wrongfully detained in Russia since her arrest on Feb. 17, 2022. Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon joined Kennan Institute Director William Pomeranz for a Twitter Spaces conversation on the latest developments from Griner's trial in Moscow, how her detention relates to Russia's war in Ukraine, and negotiations for a possible prisoner swap.

8/2/2022 - The Latest On Brittney Griner's Case

In the first decade of his reign, Vladimir Putin de-emphasized ideology to consolidate control and reinstate legitimacy of state power. The 2011 protests led him to shift gears and assume an ideological approach to consolidating legitimacy. This approach, however, led to the empowerment of “ideological entrepreneurs,” some of whom the Kremlin views as a liability. Who are the ideological entrepreneurs and how does the Kremlin manage them? What are the components of the Kremlin’s ideological operation and how does it impact ordinary Russians? Maria Lipman addressed these questions in her talk.

Speaker:
Maria Lipman - Editor, Point & Counterpoint

02/05/2019 - The Kremlin and Its Ideological Toolbox

Tackling global issues through independent research, open dialogue, and actionable ideas.

02/05/2019 - The Kremlin and Its Ideological Toolbox

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