Eastern Europe

After the implosion of the Soviet Union, fifteen former republics became independent states and began—in one form or another—the transition from the authoritarian economic and political regime. While the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have completed a successful transition to open societies and market economies, the other states are either stuck on their progress path or headed off in an authoritarian direction.

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issue spotlight

Europe in crisis

War in Ukraine

Experts from across the Atlantic Council are assessing the consequences of Russia’s February 2022 invasion, including what it means for Ukraine’s sovereignty, Europe’s security, and the United States’ leadership.

More on the war View UkraineAlert
Murtazashvili launches new report on Afghanistan’s constitutional order

New Atlanticist Dec 4, 2024

A winning strategy to end Russia’s war against Ukraine

More than a dozen experts from the United States and Europe share their recommendations to the incoming Trump administration about how best to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.

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Murtazashvili launches new report on Afghanistan’s constitutional order

Russia Tomorrow Jan 8, 2025

Sanctioned kleptocracy: How Putin’s kremligarchs have survived the war—and even prospered

By Ilya Zaslavskiy

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series explores how Russia’s kleptocratic networks infiltrated the West and measures the US and Europe can take to combat the malign influence of Russian kleptocracy around the globe.
Corruption Economy & Business
Murtazashvili launches new report on Afghanistan’s constitutional order

UkraineAlert Jan 14, 2025

No peace without security: Ukraine needs guarantees against new Russian invasion

By Peter Dickinson

Ukraine is ready to make territorial concessions but insists that any peace deal must include credible long-term security guarantees to prevent a new Russian invasion, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict European Union

Events

Public Event Wed, June 5, 2024 • 12:00 pm ET

What is to be done? The impact of war on Putin’s Russia
Civil Society Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia Human Rights
Online Event Thu, March 7, 2024 • 4:00 am ET

Courage to seek justice: Addressing the unjust political imprisonment of women
Belarus Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia Political Reform
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The Eurasia Center’s mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values, and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Turkey in the West to the Caucasus, Russia, and Central Asia in the East.

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Content

In the News

Apr 27, 2021

Murtazashvili launches new report on Afghanistan’s constitutional order

By Atlantic Council

Civil Society Corruption

Issue Brief

Apr 27, 2021

What will the impact be if Nord Stream 2 is completed?

By Anders Åslund

A completed Nord Stream 2 pipeline will have an impact on a number of issues, from national and energy security to geopolitical and governance considerations, all while the gas supply will hardly be impacted with costs already sunk. Does the pipeline make commercial sense?

Eastern Europe European Union

In the News

Apr 26, 2021

Starr in Foreign Policy: Georgian Democracy Stumbles Onward After Parliament Deal

By Atlantic Council

Democratic Transitions The Caucasus

BelarusAlert

Apr 21, 2021

Bizarre Belarus “coup plot” has all the hallmarks of a classic Kremlin drama

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka's recent claim that he was the target of a US-backed coup may be more than just the latest in a series of conspiratorial rants by the increasingly beleaguered dictator.

Belarus Democratic Transitions
Tbilsi, Georgia

Report

Apr 19, 2021

Fighting for the hearts and minds of Sakartvelo: The Georgian information environment during the 2020 parliamentary election

By Eto Buziashvili, Givi Gigitashvili, Sopo Gelava, Graham Brookie, Andy Carvin, Iain Robertson, Zarine Kharazian

A technical analysis of how various online actors, both foreign and domestic, attempted to manipulate public opinion and influence the recent Georgian parliamentary election results.

Disinformation Elections

D-10 Strategy Forum

Apr 16, 2021

Jain appears on Burn Bag Podcast to discuss D-10 Steering Committee

By Atlantic Council

On April 16, Scowcroft Center Senior Fellow Ash Jain appeared on the Burn Bag Podcast, which has partnered with the Scowcroft Center on the “100 Ideas for the First 100 Days” project, to discuss operationalizing the D-10 as a steering committee for the rules-based international order.

China Eastern Europe

In the News

Apr 16, 2021

Kroenig and Ashford debate US withdrawal from Afghanistan and Russia’s intentions behind a military buildup on the Ukrainian border

By Atlantic Council

On April 16, Foreign Policy published a biweekly column featuring Scowcroft Center deputy director Matthew Kroenig and New American Engagement Initiative senior fellow Emma Ashford discussing the latest news in international affairs. In this column, they discuss Biden’s plan to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan by September 11, the significance of Russia military buildup on the border […]

Afghanistan Central Asia

BelarusAlert

Apr 14, 2021

Belarus is the new front in Putin’s war against Ukraine

By Brian Whitmore

Fears are growing that the rapidly expanding Russian military presence in Belarus will help transform the country into a new front in the Kremlin's war against Ukraine.

Belarus Conflict

In the News

Apr 9, 2021

Power Vertical Podcast: The Guns of April

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

Apr 7, 2021

Ukraine rules out a return to Minsk peace talks as Putin tightens his grip on Belarus

By Vladislav Davidzon

Ukraine has ruled out a return to peace talks in Minsk due to growing Russian influence over Belarus as the Kremlin capitalizes on the international isolation of Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Belarus Conflict
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Experts

Staff

Iryna Adam

Research Associate

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Eastern Europe English

Fellow

Anca Agachi

Nonresident Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Africa Conflict

Staff

Nika Aleksejeva

Resident Fellow, Baltics

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarus Disinformation

Fellow

Lukas Andriukaitis

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Disinformation Eastern Europe

Staff

Kiran Baez

Program Assistant

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Central Asia Geopolitics & Energy Security

Fellow

Andrew Bernard

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

NATO Europe & Eurasia
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Events

Public Event Mon, March 30, 2026 • 2:00 pm ET

Report launch: How the West lost the post-Cold War era
Central Europe Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy