Public lectures by Ambassador Alex Petriashvili & Dr. Zurab Batiashvili 

CAPS Unlock invites you to a special double lecture event in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

August 7, 10:00 (Almaty time)

Lecture 1: Challenges and Prospects for Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the Black Sea Regions

Speaker: Ambassador Alex Petriashvili – Senior Fellow, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

10:00–11:30

Key points:

• Strategic interconnections between Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the Black Sea
• Impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine on regional security architecture
• Role of external actors: EU, China, Turkey, and the U.S.
• Emerging importance of the Middle Corridor in global trade
• Opportunities and obstacles for regional cooperation and resilience

Bio:

Ambassador Alex Petriashvili is a former State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Georgia and an experienced diplomat with postings in the U.S., Austria, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan. He currently focuses on regional security and integration as a Senior Fellow at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies.  

Lecture 2: Geopolitics of the Middle East

11:50 – 13:10

Lecture 2: 
Speaker: Dr. Zurab Batiashvili, Visiting Lecturer, University of Georgia

Key Points:

• Historical and demographic foundations of the Middle East
• Economic and political dynamics shaping the region
• Interests of major powers: U.S., Russia, China, Iran, Turkey, and the EU
• Regional conflicts and shifting alliances
• The role of local actors in shaping geopolitical outcomes

Bio:
Dr. Zurab Batiashvili is a Middle East expert and visiting lecturer at the University of Georgia. He has held senior roles in Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Security and Crisis Management Council. He previously served as Counselor at the Georgian Embassy in Turkey and holds a doctorate in history from Tbilisi State University.  

This is an in-person event only. Venue details will be shared with confirmed participants after registration.

The event will be conducted in English.

Register now via the link to reserve your spot: https://forms.gle/kgrVsctfLtBXCzym9

Capacity is limited to ensure a focused and productive discussion.