Karena Avedissian
Dr. Karena Avedissian’s research focuses on social movements, new media/communications, civil society and governance in the former Soviet Union, with an area focus on Russia and the Caucasus.
Key Topics
- Armenia-Russia Relations— Armenia's strategic partnership with Russia, CSTO membership, and the complicated relationship under Pashinyan as Moscow's influence waned after 2020.
- Armenia-SCO Relations— Armenia's observer status and relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation amid its broader pivot away from Russian-led institutions.
- Armenia-US Relations— U.S.-Armenia relations, including USAID programs, defense cooperation talks, Armenian-American lobby efforts, and Washington's South Caucasus policy.
- Constitutional Court Standoff— The 2020 political crisis over Armenia's Constitutional Court and Pashinyan's effort to reshape the judiciary after the Velvet Revolution.
- Armenian Defense— Armenia's military capabilities, defense procurement, security doctrine, and post-war efforts to rebuild and modernize its armed forces.