Policy Paper Presentation
On May 7, 2026 KAS and CI hosted a working breakfast in Yerevan with Armenian state officials, EU representatives, and experts. Dr. Sergey Minasyan presented his paper on Armenia’s place in the European political space, followed by discussions on CEPA, EU integration and security.
Strengthening Armenia's national security policy: the importance of cooperation between the expert community and state bodies
On March 31, 2026, the Caucasus Institute organized a public discussion on the topic of “Strengthening Armenia’s Security Policy: The Importance of Cooperation between the Expert Community and State Bodies.” Opening remarks were delivered by the Director of the Caucasus Institute, Alexander Iskandaryan, Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan, and Alexandra Cole, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The event was moderated by Sergey Minasyan, Deputy Director of the Caucasus Institute. During the discussion, Artak Shakaryan, Program Director at the International Republican Institute, presented a brief on “The Internal Dimension of Armenia’s National Security Policy,” followed by a question-and-answer session and an open discussion.
Discussion on Elections and Political Trends in Armenia
On March 19, the Armavir Political Club hosted a discussion on Armenia’s elections and current political developments. Survey results from the International Republican Institute were presented by Goharik Tigranyan, followed by analysis from Sergey Minasyan of the Caucasus Institute. The event concluded with an open discussion.
Strengthening Armenia's National Security Policy
From March 3–6, the Caucasus Institute held a four-day training in Yerevan as part of the “Strengthening Armenia’s National Security Policy” project. Lectures covered investment policy, artificial intelligence, regional logistics, hybrid conflicts, and policy brief preparation. Participants included representatives from Armenia’s Security Council, several ministries, and the National Security Service. The project is funded by the Government of the United Kingdom through its international development assistance.
Publications
Refugee Integration Reframed: Adapting Existing Framework to the Unique Experience of Nagorno-Karabakh Refugees in Armenia
Author: Lydia D. Smith, Master's Student of European & Russian Studies at Yale University
Refugee Integration Reframed: Adapting Existing Framework to the Unique Experience of Nagorno-Karabakh Refugees in Armenia
The Armenian Diaspora in France: Political Power in the Context of the Nagorno Karabakh Conflict
Author: Thomas Vignes, MA in "Comparative Politics of Eurasia", Higher School of Economics in Saint-Petersburg
The Armenian Diaspora in France: Political Power in the Context of the Nagorno Karabakh Conflict
The Difficulties of Social and Labour Integration of People from Nagorno Karabakh: A Parallelism with the Greek Case of Pontic Greeks and Ethnic Greek Albanian Migrants Merged into Greece
Author: Carlo Busini, Master in Global Economics and Social Affairs, Ca'Foscari Challenge School
The Difficulties of Social and Labour Integration of People from Nagorno Karabakh: A Parallelism with the Greek Case of Pontic Greeks and Ethnic Greek Albanian Migrants Merged into Greece
Projects
The Caucasus Institute designs and implements projects focused on policy research, analytical work, capacity building, and expert dialogue in the South Caucasus. The Institute’s projects address key issues related to regional security, governance, peacebuilding, and cooperation. Projects are implemented in partnership with international organizations, public institutions, research centers, and civil society organizations, and contribute to evidence-based policymaking and informed public discourse.
Events
Policy Paper Presentation
ARMENIA: WHERE THE EUROPEAN POLITICAL SPACE ENDS AND BEGINS
On May 7, 2026, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and the Caucasus Institute hosted a working breakfast in Yerevan as part of the "Political Dialogue South Caucasus" project. The event convened Armenian state officials, representatives of diplomatic missions including the EU Delegation and the EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA), and leading experts to analyze Armenia’s shifting geopolitical role and its deepening cooperation with the European Union.
The session opened with remarks by Jakob Wöllenstein, Head of the KAS Regional Program, and centered on a policy paper presentation by Dr. Sergey Minasyan, Deputy Director of the Caucasus Institute and KAS Fellow, titled “Armenia: Where the European Political Space Ends and Begins.” Dr. Minasyan’s research highlighted key findings on Armenia’s growing ties with the EU, specifically how European involvement is expanding beyond the traditional framework of membership to redefine Armenia’s place in the broader European landscape.
The subsequent discussion covered a broad agenda, from the implementation of the CEPA agreement and Armenia’s EU Integration Act to security cooperation and regional connectivity initiatives like the “Crossroads of Peace.” These topics, alongside domestic reform efforts, collectively underscored the evolving boundaries and future of the European political space in the South Caucasus.