After years of dependence on Russia as its main security guarantor, Armenia is entering a new and uncertain chapter. The peace deal with Azerbaijan has reopened old wounds while forcing the country to rethink its alliances. For many Armenians, the idea of looking West is no longer abstract but a matter of survival and political identity. How does a nation rebuild its future while breaking away from the power that shaped its past?

In her talk, Milana Bagdasarian, a political analyst
who conducts policy research on security, democracy and civic engagement in the South Caucasus and Eastern Europe, will discuss Armenia’s internal transformation, the influence of NGOs, and its shifting foreign alignment.

At this talk you will learn:

• How the peace deal with Azerbaijan is reshaping Armenia’s idea of who can guarantee its security?
• What is happening inside the country as old loyalties fade and new political expectations emerge?
• How NGOs and Western-oriented actors shape narratives, policy agendas, and international positioning?
• What Armenia’s reorientation means for Russia’s influence, U.S. engagement, and regional power dynamics?

The event takes place with support of Dialogbuero Vienna
🕔 October 14th, 19:00
📍 Eßlinggasse 9/6, 1010 Wien, Dialogbüro, 2nd floor
✍️ Free entry upon registration above
🗣 Event language is English

About the speaker

Milana Bagdasarian is currently pursuing a Master’s in International Public Affairs at Central European University. She works on a project basis with different organizations, conducting policy analysis and research on security, democracy, civic engagement, and human rights. Her regional focus is the South Caucasus and Eastern Europe, and she has worked with the Armenian diplomatic delegation at the OSCE and UN in Vienna.