SpecialEurasia External Contributors

Adkhamjon Janobiddinov – Independent Researcher. Economics student at the College of Wooster, independent researcher and journalist focusing on Central Asia. His articles have been published in more than 50 countries of the world. Through his publications, Adkhamjon aims to contribute to a better understanding of the Central Asian region around the world.

Abed Akbari – Deputy at the Strategic Directorate of the Iranian Presidency. He earned his PhD in History and Political Sciences from Shiraz University and previously served as a lecturer at Allameh Tabataba’i University (ATU) in Tehran. His broad research interests include international security studies, European studies, and Iran-Europe relations.

Ahsan Ali – Researcher. He holds a degree in International Relations from the University of Karachi, Pakistan. He is currently enrolled at ADA University in Azerbaijan in the Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Affairs. He works as a research intern at the Russian International Affairs Council, where he published research papers. He has also written reports and political analysis for different media outlets and think tanks as Medium, The Incomplete Debate, Loop Media.

Alexey Sinelshikov – Academic Scholar. He is the Director of the information and analytical portal Kaspiskij Vestnik and an Associate Professor. He has management experience in the Government of the Astrakhan region in positions related to the development of the transport complex of the region. Since 2011, he has been the head of the Astrakhan representative office of the public organisation “Caspian Cooperation Institute”. The Institute was founded in February 2010 in Moscow and is the first non-profit organisation in Russia that purposefully studies the political and socio-economic problems of the Caspian Sea and the states of the Caspian region. His scientific interests include, first of all, the development of sea and rail transport in the Caspian region,  the implementation of the North-South project, and issues of geo-economics and geopolitics of the Caspian Sea.

Amir Mojtahedi – Researcher. Senior lecturer in Security and Diplomatic Studies at the Shiraz University in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Member of the Middle Middle East Studies Association Germany (DAVO), he is the author of the book Explanation of German Foreign Policy in the Middle East.

Andrea Serino – Independent Researcher. He is an expert researcher specialising in the foreign policy of Russia and post-Soviet countries, with a particular focus on regional security dynamics and geopolitical strategies. His analytical work provides deep insights into the evolving political landscapes, international relations, and diplomatic trends across the Eurasian region.

Antonio Graceffo – Economic Analyst. He holds a PhD and a China-MBA. He is a China economic analyst who has spent over 20 years in Asia, including 7 in China, and 3 in Mongolia, where he teaches economics at an American university. He graduated from the Shanghai University of Sport and Antai College of Economics & Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Additionally, he conducted three years of post-doctoral studies at the School of Economics Shanghai University, focusing on U.S.-China trade, and currently studies national security at the American Military University. He is the author of 5 books about China, including Beyond the Belt and Road: China’s Global Economic Expansion and The Wushu Doctor. His writing has appeared in Al Jazeera, The South China Morning Post, The Diplomat, Jamestown Foundation China Brief, Modern Diplomacy, Lowy Institute China Brief, Penthouse, and others. He is a frequent guest on various TV shows, providing China commentary on the NTD network in the United States.

Boris Sharov – PhD Candidate and Researcher.Boris Sharov is a PhD Candidate in International Relations at AU, Israel. He got his BA in Asian and African Studies and MA in Eurasian Studies at HSE University, Russia. Boris has published papers and worked on research projects in several research centers, including CCGS (Russia), ENERPO (Russia) and MECARC (Israel). His research interests include Russia’s foreign policy, the geopolitics of energy, and regional rivalries and conflicts in the Middle East. Boris speaks several languages, including Ukrainian and Russian (native bilingual), English, French, Arabic, Polish and Hebrew.

Daniele Garofalo – Terrorism and Jihadist Propaganda Analyst. He holds an M.A. in History and Political Doctrines from the Federico II University of Naples. He is currently a Senior Analyst in Jihadist Terrorism and a member of the Scientific Committee for the Italian Center of Strategies and Intelligence – CISINT.  He has written articles and reports on terrorism and jihadist propaganda for several foreign think tanks, media outlets, and magazines such as European Eye on Radicalization, The Jamestown Foundation, Jihadica and Militant Wire. He is the author of the book Medio Oriente insaguinato (Enigma Edizioni, 2020). Currently, he manages his personal blog/page titled Monitoring Jihadist Propaganda.

Debalina Ghoshal – Security Consultant. She is a specialist in nuclear policy, missile systems, missile defence, artillery, and space security. She is the author of The Role of Ballistic and Cruise Missiles in International Security and the monograph Missile Development in the Middle East. She has written over three hundred articles published in reputed journals, magazines, and national dailies. Her work is frequently cited by military professionals, policymakers, and scholars in the field of strategic and security studies. In addition to her research and publications, she regularly delivers lectures at academic institutions and military establishments, contributing to informed discourse on defence and strategic affairs.

Dimitris Symeonidis – Central Asia researcher at CERTH and the founder of the Decentralised Solutions Global Network (DSGN). At DSGN, Dimitris is working with local communities in Greece and the Global South in developing hybrid energy/agriculture cooperatives with maximized financial and societal value, with a network of partners in several Central Asian countries, such as Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. As a policy advisor, Dimitris has been chosen as an EU Young Energy Ambassador, an EU Climate Pact Ambassador and an OSCE Central Asia expert.

Christian Tratzi – Senior Terrorism Analyst. Ph.D. Candidate at Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), he holds a Master’s degree in History and a Bachelor’s degree in Literature from the University Tor Vergata of Rome. Currently, his research and working activities are focusing on international Islamic organisation, security in the Arab-Muslim world, and terrorism and jihadist propaganda in North Africa and the Sahel. Previously, he worked as a Junior Terrorism Analyst at ASRIE Analytica. He is the author of several academic papers and working reports on Islam, the MENA region, and terrorism.

Ekaterina Petrichenko – Junior Analyst. She was a former intern at SpecialEurasia for the period May-July 2026. She is an undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Italian Studies with a minor in Economics at Connecticut College, where she is completing her third year. Her academic interests include international affairs, economics, security studies, human rights, and political analysis. She has experience supporting nonprofit and advocacy work in Washington, D.C., where she contributed to research and analysis related to human rights and international justice, while also assisting in the organisation of meetings and engagement with members of Congress and policy stakeholders. She speaks Russian, English, and Italian..

Elia Elias – Academic Scholar. Born in Beirut, he is a researcher at the University of the Holy Spirit in Kaslik (USEK) and a professor of Arab history and history of the Middle East of the 20^th century in various Lebanese universities.

Evgeny Pashentsev – Academic Scholar. DSc., Professor, Leading Researcher, Institute of Contemporary International Studies, Diplomatic Academy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Сoordinator of the International Research Group on Threats for International Psychological Security through Malicious Use of Artificial Intelligence (Research MUAI).

Filiberto Baldassarre – Independent Researcher. He holds a master’s degree in Geopolitics and Global Security from La Sapienza University, following a degree in History and Society from Roma Tre University. His research focuses on the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on Iran, examining regional dynamics, political developments, and security challenges. Committed to an interdisciplinary approach, he engages with historical, political, and cultural sources to provide nuanced analysis of the region.

Gamal Eldin Ahmed – Independent Researcher. He is a Sudanese academic and public intellectual known for his work on Sudan’s political economy, governance, and development challenges. Affiliated with the African Union (Senior Communications Officer within AU Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), his research and commentary often examine state formation, civil–military relations, and the economic roots of conflict in Sudan. Karrar contributes to policy debates through lectures, media commentary, and analytical essays that explore pathways toward institutional reform, economic diversification, and sustainable peace in Sudan and the wider Horn of Africa.

G. M. Magomedov – Independent Researcher. He is a geopolitical analyst specialising in economics, risk assessment, and energy markets, with a particular focus on Eurasia and the former Soviet republics. He has also worked as a consultant to companies, assessing country risks and investment opportunities.

Gino Lanzara – Independent Geopolitical Analyst. Senior Naval Officer with an academic focus spanning geopolitical analysis, corporate management and strategic intelligence. He holds a degree in Administrative and Management Sciences from the University of Tuscia, a degree in Business Management and Communication from the University of Teramo, and a degree in Diplomatic and Strategic Sciences from Link Campus University. Additional, he completed a Master’s in Epistemology and Education at the University of Teramo, alongside advanced training in geopolitics and security at specialised insitutions including CESI, Limes, and SIOI. He is a member of the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), collaborates with the University of Tuscia, and frequently contributes analysis to defence and geopolitical industry publications.

Giuseppe Gagliano – Independent Researcher. Graduated with a degree in Philosophy from the University of Milan in March 1994, in 2011, he founded the Como-based international network Cestudec (Carlo de Cristoforis Strategic Studies Centre), an institution officially registered with the Italian Research Registry since 2015. Inspired by Christian Harbulot, the founder of the School of Economic Warfare (EGE) in Paris, the centre examines the conflict dynamics of international relations with a realistic focus on intelligence and geopolitics. Consequently, Mr Gagliano is widely recognised as the leading Italian proponent of the French School of Economic Warfare, collaborating extensively with the Italian Society of Military History, the French Centre for Intelligence Research, and numerous prestigious international journals.

Habib al-Badawi – Academic Scholar. He has been a scholar of Japanese studies since 2005. His M.A. thesis and PhD dissertation covered the modern history of Japan (Meiji-tenno, Taisho-tenno, and Showa-tenno). Badawi is currently a professor at Lebanese University and a freelance researcher in international relations. In 2016, he became the coordinator of the “United States of America – History and Civilization” course at the History Department for the university’s five branches. Badawi earned the “Academic Excellence Award in the Arab World” in the category of “Academic Personality of the Year 2018” for his role in introducing “Japanese studies” to the Arab world as a stand-alone academic field of “Human Sciences.”

Harikrishna Kundariya – Entrepreneur. He is a marketer, developer, IoT, Cloud & AWS savvy, co-founder, and Director of eSparkBiz, a Software Development Company. His 14+ years of experience enables him to provide digital solutions to new start-ups based on IoT and SaaS applications.

Kamran Yeganegi – Independent Researcher. He is a researcher and analyst focusing on geopolitics and international affairs who authored different reports and policy papers regarding contemporary geopolitics.

Kumar Gitesh – Researcher. Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science and International Relations of the Gautam Buddha University, he holds a PhD from the Department of International Relations, Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi, after having defended a doctoral research titled “India’s Foreign Policy in Central Asia: A Case Study of Uzbekistan (2001–2019).” He also holds  a M.Phil from the Centre for South and Central Asian Studies, Central University of Punjab, India. He is the author of several articles on geopolitics, Central Asia, and the Indian foreign policy published by academic journals and think tanks.

Laura Pennisi – Geopolitical Analyst. She holds a bachelor’s in International Communication from Catania University and a master`s in Translation Studies from the La Sapienza University of Rome, with a major in Modern Greek Studies. She also holds a master`s in International Relations from Staffordshire University, UK, and a master`s in Russian and Eurasian Studies from Uppsala University, Sweden. She is interested in the politics and geopolitics of the eastern Mediterranean, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. She speaks Italian, English, Greek, Russian, Swedish, French, and Spanish.

Lorenzo Somigli – Independent Researcher/Journalist. Born in Florence, he is a journalist and MENA analyst for think tanks, foundations and research centres. He is the co-author with Roberta Văduva of the book report on Lebanon titled Ora sappiamo che le tue radici sono in noi.

Luca Garruba – Financial Consultant.He holds a Master’s degree in Law with a specialisation in Chinese law. After passing the bar exam, he continued to deepen his expertise in the Chinese and ASEAN markets, working for the international law firm Advant NCTM and the Italian Trade Agency. He currently works in the financial consultancy sector for individuals and companies. In the past, he managed the analytical portal Paesi Emergenti, which aimed to analyse investment and business opportunities in Asian markets.

Luca Urciuolo – Geopolitical Analyst. He holds a double master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Florence and the State Institute for International Relations (MGIMO) in Moscow. Previously, he completed his bachelor’s degree in Political Science at the University of Naples ‘L’Orientale.’ His main research interests include the post-Soviet space, with a specific focus on the geopolitical and economic dimensions of the Central Asian region.

Maryam Fattahi Manesh – Academic Researcher. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Middle East and North African Studies from the same institution. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in International Relations at Allameh Tabatabai University, her research focuses on the political dynamics of the Middle East, particularly the Levant region. Specializing in the political and security issues of Islamist and Kurdish groups in Syria, she also delves into the realm of cyber security and its impact on political and international relations. Maryam has collaborated with various Iranian think tanks and institutes, with her work published in prestigious outlets. She is also the author of two forthcoming books: “Is ISIS Revived? Confrontation Resistance Groups and Terrorist Groups in Syria” and “History of Foreign Relations of Syria and Arab countries: Milestones and Trends from 1970 to 2023.“

Mohamad al Mokdad – International Affairs Specialist. He holds a PhD in International Relations from the Center for Diplomatic & Strategic Studies (CEDS) of Paris and a PhD in Geopolitics from the Paris Graduate School IKI-PGS. He is an officer of the Lebanese Armed Forces with professional experience in strategic and diplomatic studies. He speaks Arabic, English, French, and Italian.

Riccardo Allegri – Geopolitical Analyst. Defence and Cyber Desk Manager at Osservatorio Russia, he holds a B.A. in Political Sciences of International Studies from the University of Bologna and an M.A. in International Studies from the University of Pisa. He has written reports and articles for various online and print magazines, including Zeppelin, Il Caffè Geopolitico, Eurasia – Rivista di Studi Geopolitici, ASRIE Analytica and CSI. He specialises in Russia and the post-Soviet space, and he speaks Russian.

Riccardo Valle – Terrorism and Jihadist Propaganda Analyst. He holds a Master’s degree in diplomacy and international relations from the University of Trieste (Italy). He wrote a master’s thesis on studying the Islamic State in Afghanistan and Pakistan, its relationships with local entities, and its impact on the Af-Pak region. He has written several reports and analyses on terrorism and jihadist propaganda in the AfPak region for different think tanks, media agencies, and magazines such as  Analytica for Intelligence Studies, Porter Medium, Geopolitical Monitor and Jihadica. He has focused his research on the correlation between security and the phenomenon of transnational and local Islamism and jihadism through continuous monitoring and analysis of local and international sources concerning the developments of the MENA region and the AfPak area, with particular attention to the dynamics of some non-state groups.

Stefano Vernole – Vice President and Head of External Relations of CeSEM. He is a freelance journalist, a geopolitical analyst with experience in analysing political and economic dynamics in Eurasia. He was the deputy director of Eurasia – Journal of geopolitical studies. He is the author of the following books “La difesa della fede ortodossa in Montenegro. Il possibile cambiamento geopolitico nei Balcani” (Anteo Edizioni 202o), and “Ex Jugoslavia: gioco sporco nei Balcani. Frammentazione nazionale e risiko geopolitico del Kosovo” (Anteo Edizioni 2013). He is also the co-author of the books “Il grande rinascimento della nazione cinese” (Anteo Edizioni 2022), “Xinjiang: Storia e Sviluppo” (CeSEM 2022), and “Hong Kong. Il «porto profumato» della RPC tra storia, economia e ingerenze straniere” (Anteo Edizioni 2021).

Uran Botobekov – Geopolitical Analyst/Academic Scholar. He is a researcher focusing on Central Asian Sunni Jihadi groups, whose activities seriously threaten the security and stability of the Eurasia region. His scientific works on the religious and political aspects of the Salafi-Jihadi movement in Central Asia and the Middle East have been published in Germany, France, Britain, Japan, the USA, Iran, China, and the post-Soviet countries. He regularly advised governments of Central Asia on matters relating to Militant Salafism and religious extremism. Uran Botobekov is writing a new book, “Transformation of Central Asian Jihad: From Local to Global.”. Uran holds a PhD in Political Science from the Institute of Philosophy and Political and Legal Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic in Bishkek and an M.A. and B.A. in Political Science and Journalism from the Kyrgyz State University. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the platform Modern Diplomacy.

Urs Unkauf – Academic Scholar. He is the Federal Managing Director of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA Global Economic Network). He studied history and sociology with an emphasis on international relations at the Universities of Tübingen, Aix-en-Provence/Marseille and the Humboldt University of Berlin. His academic focus is on diplomacy, energy policy, geopolitics and security studies with a regional focus on Russia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the South Caucasus. Academic exchanges and projects have taken him to Israel, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Poland. He has gained professional experience in human resources management, government relations, energy policy, public affairs and foreign trade. He worked as a policy adviser to a member of the German National Parliament in 2020-2021. Several times he has also served as an international election observer. Previously serving as Adviser for Diplomacy and Director of Government Relations of BWA Global Economic Network, he has been a speaker and moderator at various national and international business and policy conferences.