The Ukrainian Fight for Democracy in the Black Sea Region

Date
-
Event Sponsor
The Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law

The Crimean peninsula has always been an integral component of security in the Black Sea Region. In 2014 it became a flashpoint for the international order when Russia annexed the peninsula from Ukraine. Seven years later, it remains an important topic in international security and democracy promotion. Please join CDDRL and the Embassy of Ukraine in the US for a discussion on several topics related to the peninsula including:

• Political prisoners and human rights
• Security in Crimea
• Three Seas Initiative
• The Crimea Platform

This event is held in recognition of the political prisoners of Crimea, and to bring attention to the case of Osman Arifmemetov.

About the Speakers: 

Opening Remarks

Oksana Markarova is a Ukrainian politician and the current Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States. Markarova also served as former Minister of Finance.

Panelists

Emine Dzhaparova is a Crimean Tatar politician and stateswoman. She was formerly a journalist and currently serves as the first deputy minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

George Kent currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the European and Eurasian Bureau at the U.S. Department of State, overseeing policy towards Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Previously, he was Deputy Chief of Mission in Kyiv, Ukraine (2015-18).

Steven Pifer is a fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy in Berlin and a non-resident senior fellow with the Brookings Institution.  He was a William J. Perry Research Fellow at the Center for International Security and Cooperation from 2018-2020. He served as deputy assistant secretary of state in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs with responsibilities for Russia and Ukraine (2001-2004), ambassador to Ukraine (1998-2000), and special assistant to the president and senior director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia on the National Security Council (1996-1997).

Moderator
Francis Fukuyama is the Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI), Mosbacher Director of FSI's Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL), and Director of the Ford Dorsey Master's in International Policy.  He is also a professor (by courtesy) of Political Science.