Activities of the Eureast Platform and its Knowledge Centres in 2025
Eureast Platform
6 March
'The Russia–Ukraine War and Its Implications on Central Asia: Resilience, Connectivity, and Decolonization'
This publication by Dr. Assylzat Karabayeva and Dr. Ikboljon Qoraboyev examines the impact of the Russia's war against Ukraine on Central Asia through the lens of regional scholars. The book explores geopolitical shifts, economic transformations, and evolving national identities, while addressing the tensions between demands for decolonization and local socio-economic constraints. It also investigates the complex relationships between state, society, and media, offering a nuanced perspective on Central Asia’s resilience and its emerging role in global affairs. This collection provides essential insights into the ongoing consequences of Russia's war against Ukraine for the region.
18 March
Panel Discussion on EU-Armenian relations
The event brought together key figures, experts, and stakeholders to discuss Armenia’s evolving geopolitical positioning and its relations with the EU.
The panel discussion explored key issues surrounding Armenia’s path toward deeper EU integration. The two sessions investigated Armenia’s geopolitical positioning and EU–Armenia relations, including human rights promotion and the implementation of the bilateral Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. The challenges and opportunities facing Armenia on its potential path toward EU accession were also discussed. This joint event was organized in Yerevan by Ghent University’s Eureast Platform and APRI Armenia, with the support of the Embassy of Belgium in Armenia.
26 August – 2 October
Online School on Human Rights: ‘Rights in Europe: The Risks and Impact of Authoritarianism’
The second edition of the School explored the fundamental rights in the wider region of Europe shedding light on the realities of human rights in different political contexts.
Focusing on human rights as its core theme, human rights have been approached through the question of authoritarianism and its impact on the enjoyment of various rights. The objective of the School is to equip participants with the skills to understand human rights within different legal, political, and social contexts, critically analyse discursive narratives surrounding human rights, develop effective advocacy strategies, and conduct interdisciplinary human rights research.
17 – 21 March
Eureast Platform’s Academic Mission to Armenia and Georgia
In March, Ghent University’s Eureast Platform successfully organized an academic mission to Armenia and Georgia. Led by Vice-Rector Prof. Mieke Van Herreweghe, a delegation of professors, researchers, and staff members visited Yerevan and Tbilisi with the goal of strengthening existing partnerships and exploring new avenues for academic cooperation.
17 – 21 November
Rectoral Mission to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
Ghent University’s Eureast Platform organized a mission to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan led by the Rector Petra De Sutter. The mission opened opportunities for joint research, scholarships opportunities, and academic cooperation with key institutions in both countries, building on Ghent University’s strengths and global connections.
CERISE
Born in Moscow in 1947, Viktor Yerofeyev became known worldwide for his novel 'Russian Beauty', published in 1989 and translated into no less than 27 languages. In March 2022, he left Russia and now lives in Germany. In April 2023, he published a collection of essays entitled 'Naked Russia', dedicated to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. In his most recent work, 'The Great Gopnik' (2024), he relates his biography to that of Vladimir Putin.
27 February
Book Presentation 'Occupation: Russian rule in South-Eastern Ukraine'
In this talk, professor David Lewis (University of Exeter) explained how Russia seeks to subjugate and ‘re-format’ the occupied parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia provinces through a mixture of violent repression, political engineering, collaborationism, economic coercion and propaganda.
5 May
Lecture ‘The Tsar – Russian Cultural Myth’
In this lecture, Prof. Andrei Zorin (University of Oxford) explored the enduring cultural myth of the "true tsar" in Russian history - a figure believed to lead the nation from disaster to triumph. The talk concluded with a reflection on Vladimir Putin as a contemporary embodiment of this powerful myth.
Ukraine-plus
8 May
Lecture ‘Environmental Dimension of Russian Aggression against Ukraine: Questions of Qualification and Responsibility’
The war in Ukraine has caused not only devastating loss of human life, but also widespread environmental destruction - an often overlooked consequence of armed conflict. This lecture by dr. Nataliia Hendel (Institute of Information, Security and Law of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine) explored issues such as criminal liability for environmental crimes, the application of Ukraine’s ecocide legislation, accountability under international law for the Kakhovka dam explosion, and the documentation of environmental damage resulting from Russia’s aggression.
9 May
‘Political and legal aspects of responsibility for the displacement and deportation of Ukrainian children’
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, thousands of Ukrainian civilians - including children - have been unlawfully transferred and deported from occupied territories, with many subjected to forced indoctrination and loss of identity. This lecture by dr. Nataliia Hendel (Institute of Information, Security and Law of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine) explored the scale, methods, and legal implications of these actions, which have been condemned as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and potentially genocide under international law.
22 May
Lecture ‘Reparations for Ukraine: law, history and the register of damage for Ukraine'
In his lecture, Mr. Kliuchkovskyi (Executive Director of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine) elaborated on the legal, historical, and institutional foundations of reparations efforts in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine
18 November
Book discussion 'Tackling Corruption in the Eastern Neighbourhood of the European Union'
Drawing on his book about the EU’s anti-corruption efforts in the Eastern Neighbourhood and his experience at the German Agency for Development Cooperation (GIZ) in public sector reform in the Republic of Moldova, Mihai-Razvan Corman presented his academic and practical insights and the results of the pivotal Moldovan parliamentary elections of 28 September 2025 exploring their implications for Moldova’s future path toward EU integration.