Roundtable Osteuropa

By ZOiS BerlinNews Science Social Sciences Politics

Roundtable Osteuropa episodes

November 13, 2025 Russians on the Move: Reception and Response in Georgia and Armenia
With Margarita Zavadskaya, Tsypylma Darieva and Stefanie Orphal
Music: “Complete” by Modul is licensed under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0-License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
Gäste:
Margarita Zavadskaya (Researcher at Aleksanteri Institute – Finnish Centre for Russian and East European Studies): https://researchportal.helsinki.fi/en/persons/margarita-zavadskaya/
PD Dr. Tsypylma Darieva (ZOiS, Leitung des Forschungsschwerpunkts Migration und Diversität): https://www.zois-berlin.de/ueber-uns/mitarbeiterinnen/pd-dr-tsypylma-darieva
Moderation: Dr. Stefanie Orphal (ZOiS, Leitung Kommunikation): https://www.zois-berlin.de/ueber-uns/mitarbeiterinnen/dr-stefanie-orphal/
Weiterlesen:
Margarita Zavadskaya: Dispelling Myths About Russian Emigration: https://russiapost.info/society/emigration_myths
Russian Migrants in Georgia and Germany: Activism in the Context of Russia’s War against Ukraine, ZOiS Report by Tsypylma Darieva and Tatiana Golova: https://www.zois-berlin.de/en/publications/zois-report/russian-migrants-in-georgia-and-germany-activism-in-the-context-of-russias-war-against-ukraine
Russia’s 650,000 wartime emigres by Peter Mironenko, the Bell: https://en.thebell.io/russias-650-000-wartime-emigres/
Outreach: A research project on Russian emigration, which surveys of Russians who left the country after February 24, 2022: https://outrush.io/eng
Russians in the South Caucasus: Political Attitudes and the War in Ukraine, ZOiS Report by Félix Krawatzek George Soroka Isabelle DeSistohttps://www.zois-berlin.de/en/publications/zois-report/russians-in-the-south-caucasus-political-attitudes-and-the-war-in-ukraine
The Political Diversity of the New Migration from Russia Since February 2022, ZOiS Report by Félix Krawatzek and Gwendolyn Sasse : https://www.zois-berlin.de/en/publications/zois-report/the-political-diversity-of-the-new-migration-from-russia-since-february-2022
43 min
September 25, 2025 Yet Another Crucial Election: Moldova between Russia’s Hybrid War and EU Accession
With Anastasia Pociumban and Nadja Douglas
Caught between Russian influence and disinformation campaigns on the one hand and the chance of EU accession on the other, Moldovans will elect a new parliament on 28 September. After pro-European president Maia Sandu narrowly defeated her opponent in last year’s presidential elections, Moldova now faces yet another crucial election.
In this episode of the ZOiS podcast, we will look at Moldova’s current political landscape and its most prominent actors ahead of the election – as well as the internal and external factors that may have a negative influence on the election process. Our guests are Anastasia Pociumban and Nadja Douglas.
Before the electorate decides on the make-up of the next parliament, we will discuss why Russia targets Moldova’s elections, what coalitions are likely, what is at stake and what the future may hold for Moldova and the EU going forward.
Music: “Complete” by Modul is licensed under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0-License.
Further Reading:
Promo-LEX Association, Observation Mission For The Parlamentary Elections Of 28 September 2025, Report No. 1, Oberservation Period: 17 April - 21 July, 2025 https://epde.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/report-no.-1promo-lex-om2025_en.pdf
Further reading:
Russian disinformation campaigns; deep fakes; Ilan Shor: Euro News, Sep. 23, https://www.euronews.com/next/2025/09/23/inside-russias-ai-driven-disinformation-machine-shaping-moldovas-election
Russian interference; disinformation online: New York Times Sep. 7, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/business/russia-disinformation-trump.html (paywall)
Russia, Ukraine, Moldova; hybrid warfare; disinformation: Alexander Shulga, Moscow Times, Jul. 2, https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/07/02/moldova-is-the-testing-ground-for-russias-disinformation-machine-a89651
APuZ-Ausgabe zu Moldau, Juli 2024 (auf Deutsch):
https://www.bpb.de/shop/zeitschriften/apuz/republik-moldau-2024/
Sprecher*innen:
Anastasia Pociumban (DGAP) https://dgap.org/en/user/28899/anastasia-pociumban
Nadja Douglas (ZOiS, SWP) https://www.zois-berlin.de/ueber-uns/mitarbeiterinnen/dr-nadja-douglas/
Moderation: Stefanie Orphal (ZOiS)
39 min
July 31, 2025 Episode rerun: Research versus Ethics? Perspectives from the Social Sciences and Humanities
With Nina Frieß, Lela Rekhviashvili and Hannah Guhlmann
Two researchers who have many years of experience working in Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus share their views on research ethics. In the social sciences and humanities, human interview partners — whether experts, eyewitnesses, writers or activists — are essential to data collection. Throughout a research project, it is crucial for researchers to consider how they can balance their desire to generate and publish knowledge with the need for safety — of their participants and themselves. This is particularly important when dealing with vulnerable groups, operating in authoritarian regimes, or facing conflicts and wars.
This episode was first published in March 2024.
36 min
June 30, 2025 Ukrainische Geflüchtete in Deutschland: zwischen den Welten
Mit Oleksandra Bienert, Irina Mützelburg und Stefanie Orphal
Music: “Complete” by Modul is licensed under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0-License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
Gäste:
Oleksandra Bienert ist ehrenamtliche Vorstandsvorsitzende der Allianz Ukrainischer Organisationen. Im Verein CineMova e.V. arbeitet sie als Trainerin für politische Bildung und setzt sich für die Teilhabe und Empowerment von Menschen mit Migrationsgeschichte ein: https://www.facebook.com/oleksandra.bienert
Irina Mützelburg (ZOiS): https://www.zois-berlin.de/ueber-uns/mitarbeiterinnen/dr-irina-muetzelburg
Moderation: Stefanie Orphal (ZOiS) https://www.zois-berlin.de/ueber-uns/mitarbeiterinnen/dr-stefanie-orphal
Weiterlesen:
Education and Displacement: Ukrainian Families in Germany
Von Irina Mützelburg Félix Krawatzek
https://www.zois-berlin.de/publikationen/zois-report/education-and-displacement-ukrainian-families-in-germany
Displaced Ukrainian Youth: Displaced Futures?
Von Sabine von Löwis Gwendolyn Sasse Inna Volosevych
https://www.zois-berlin.de/publikationen/zois-report/displaced-ukrainian-youth-displaced-futures
41 min
May 13, 2025 Visibility, Access, Power: Why research data infrastructure matters
With Felix Herrmann, Ivaylo Dinev and Kerstin Bischl
Music: “Complete” by Modul is licensed under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0-License.
Participants:
Felix Herrmann (Uni Bremen/Discuss Data): https://discuss-data.net/users/fad51541-35d6-4fd7-9f65-d1a22a31159d/
Ivaylo Dinev (ZOiS): https://www.zois-berlin.de/en/about-us/staff/dr-ivaylo-dinev
Moderation: Kerstin Bischl (ZOiS) https://www.zois-berlin.de/en/about-us/staff/dr-kerstin-bischl
KoDaNetOst is a data network whose aim is to foster links between research institutes and scholars in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, Central Asia and the EU countries who are engaged in the collection and utilisation of data in the social sciences and humanities. KoDaNetOst is funded by the BMBF and emerged from KonKoop. Find out more: https://konkoop.de/index.php/kodanetost/
KonKoop is a research network that examines various conflict constellations and dynamics of cooperation in Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus. Find out more: https://konkoop.de/index.php/project-description/
Discuss Data (www.discuss-data.net) is an open repository for storing, sharing and discussing research data on Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia. The platform, launched in September 2020, is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and operated by the Research Centre for East European Studies at the University of Bremen (FSO) and the Göttingen State and University Library (SUB). Discuss Data goes beyond ordinary repositories and offers an interactive online platform for the discussion and quality assessment of research data.
33 min
April 17, 2025 Ukrainians and the EU: Integration, Divisions and Scepticism
With Kostiantyn Fedorenko, Valeria Lazarenko and Maryna Rabinovych
This episode is about Ukrainians - in Ukraine and abroad - their experiences of war and European integration, and what these might mean for the future of Ukrainian and European politics. Marina Rabinovych talks to Valeria Lazarenko, who has studied governance regimes for Ukrainian refugees in Germany, Sweden, Poland and the Czech Republic, and Kostiantyn Fedorenko, who has researched the risks of Euroscepticism in Ukraine - an issue of growing relevance as the war enters its fourth year and the stakes rise for potential negotiations and Europe's role in them.
President Zelenskiy signed Ukraine's official application for EU membership on 28 February 2022, four days after Russia's full-scale invasion began. Although the application was approved and Ukraine gained EU candidate status with unprecedented speed, the road remains challenging and does not promise to get any easier as the war continues and around 20% of Ukraine's territory is occupied by Russia.
With the full-scale invasion, relations with the EU have suddenly become very concrete for Ukrainian citizens. Many have been displaced, living in various EU countries under temporary protection status –some want to stay there. And while EU countries were seen as important in providing military aid, key member states such as Germany were heavily criticised for their perceived slow delivery.
Music: “Complete” by Modul is licensed under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0-License.
With
Kostiantyn Fedorenko (ZOiS): https://www.zois-berlin.de/en/about-us/staff/kostiantyn-fedorenko
Valeria Lazarenko: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Valeria-Lazarenko
Moderation: Maryna Rabinovych (UiT – the Arctic University of Norway/UNET) : https://www.zois-berlin.de/en/about-us/staff/dr-maryna-rabinovych
The episode is based on a recent book, Ukraine’s Thorny Path to the EU: From “Integration without Membership” to “Integration through War”, co-edited by Dr. Anne Pintsch from the University of Agder in Norway and Marina Rabinovych. The volume seeks to unpack the complexity of political, legal and economic issues surrounding Ukraine’s European integration in the war context: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-69154-6
44 min
March 06, 2025 Ausgeträumt in Georgien? Die Proteste gegen den Demokratieabbau und den Anti-EU-Kurs in der Analyse
Mit Diana Bogishvili, Julia Langbein und Gwendolyn Sasse
In Georgien protestieren Menschen seit Monaten ununterbrochen gegen den Rückbau demokratischer Institutionen und Rechtsstaatlichkeit. Die Regierung geht mit Gewalt und Repressionen gegen Opposition und Zivilgesellschaft vor. Was steckt hinter der antiwestlichen Rhetorik der Regierungspartei Georgischer Traum und ihrer Annäherungspolitik an Russland? Welchen Rückhalt findet diese Politik in einer Gesellschaft, die seit Jahren mehrheitlich für einen EU-Beitritt ist; und seit dem Krieg mit Russland 2008 alles andere als russlandfreundlich ist? In dieser Folge diskutiert ZOiS-Direktorin Gwendolyn Sasse mit der georgischen Soziologin Diana Bogishvili und der Politikwissenschaftlerin Julia Langbein über Georgiens innen- und außenpolitische Herausforderungen – und die Frage, ob das Land seinen demokratischen Weg noch verteidigen kann.
Teilnehmende:
Diana Bogishvili: https://www.zois-berlin.de/ueber-uns/mitarbeiterinnen/diana-bogishvili
Julia Langbein (ZOiS): https://www.zois-berlin.de/ueber-uns/mitarbeiterinnen/dr-julia-langbein
Moderation: Gwendolyn Sasse (ZOiS)
(Music: “Complete” by Modul is licensed under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0-License.)
Weiterlesen:
Propaganda und Angst: Wie die georgische Regierungspartei „Georgischer Traum“ ihre Wähler*innen mobilisiert, ZOiS Spotlight von Diana Bogishvili
Migration, Tradition und Wandel in Georgien, ZOiS Spotlight von Diana Bogishvili
Verabschiedung des ausländischen Agentengesetzes in Georgien: Was auf dem Spiel steht - libmod.de, Artikel von Khatia Kikalishvili
Varieties of Democracy 2024, V-Dem
45 min
February 20, 2025 Ukrainian Life Stories as Told by Social Science and Playback Theatre
With Yuliia Terentieva, Sabine von Löwis and Stefanie Orphal
Three years ago, Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then over 10 million Ukrainians have had to leave their homes. Over 6 million of them moved on to other European countries and continue their lives there.
How to take stock of this huge change in people’s lives? How to gain an understanding of their perspectives, sense of identity, hopes and fears?
Over the past year, we have explored different ways of narrating the experiences of forced migrants from Ukraine. In a social science project conducted at ZOiS, researchers investigate and visualise the experiences of displacement and arrival, as well as questions of identity and belonging in relation to forced migrants from and in Ukraine. In a Berlin theatre, a playback theatre performance based on the theme of ‘Seeing the difference’, actors brought to life the stories of their audience members, many of them Ukrainians living in the city.
In this podcast episode, Stefanie Orphal speaks with playback performer Yuliia Terentieva and ZOiS researcher Sabine von Löwis about the intersection of research and theatre and explores unexpected ways of bringing them together.
(Music: “Complete” by Modul is licensed under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0-License.)
Speakers:
Yuliia Terentieva
Sabine von Löwis: https://www.zois-berlin.de/en/about-us/staff/pd-dr-sabine-von-loewis
Host: Stefanie Orphal (ZOiS)
Project and theatre performance mentioned:
Research Project: Forced Migrants From Ukraine in Transnational Europe: Between Personal Agency, Civil Society And The State (FORUM), https://www.zois-berlin.de/en/research/research-clusters/migration-and-diversity/forum
‘Seeing the Difference’, Playback Theatre Performance, 2 July 2024, https://www.zois-berlin.de/veranstaltungen/seeing-the-difference
Further Reading:
Sabine von Löwis Gwendolyn Sasse Inna Volosevych: Displaced Ukrainian Youth: Displaced Futures?, ZOiS Report 3/2024, https://www.zois-berlin.de/en/publications/zois-report/displaced-ukrainian-youth-displaced-futures
35 min
January 22, 2025 Scheinwahlen in Belarus: Inszenierung, Propaganda und Repressionen
Mit Ingo Petz, Nina Frieß und Nadja Douglas
In Belarus will Machthaber Lukaschenka sich am 26. Januar 2025 als Präsident wiederwählen lassen. Von einer Wahl im demokratischen Sinn kann aber nicht die Rede sein. Die im Exil lebende Oppositionsführerin Swjatlana Zichanouskaja etwa spricht von einer „militärischen Sonderoperation“, so massiv ist die Atmosphäre der Angst, mit der die Staatsmacht jeglichen Protest im Land erstickt. Die Menschrechtslage in Belarus hat sich seit der letzten, von Wahlfälschungen geprägten Wiederwahl Lukaschenkas 2020 noch weiter verschlechtert, es gibt annähernd 1300 politische Gefangene. Welche Taktik verfolgt Lukaschenka mit den von Juli auf Januar vorgezogenen Wahlen? Welche Signale sendet er damit an den Westen und an Russland? Und wie kann die EU wiederum reagieren? Ingo Petz, Belarus-Redakteur beim Medienprojekt dekoder, und ZOiS-Slavistin Nina Frieß sprechen mit Nadja Douglas über die Hintergründe und diskutieren, welche Hoffnung es für freie Exilmedien, die Demokratiebewegung und die Zivilgesellschaft gibt.
Music: “Complete” by Modul is licensed under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0-License.
Sprecher*innen:
Ingo Petz (dekoder) https://ingopetz.com/
Nina Frieß (ZOiS) https://www.zois-berlin.de/ueber-uns/mitarbeiterinnen/dr-nina-friess
Moderation: Nadja Douglas (ZOiS) https://www.zois-berlin.de/ueber-uns/mitarbeiterinnen/dr-nadja-douglas
Mehr zum Thema:
Olga Dryndova: Alter Autokrat, neue Gesellschaft: Was von der Präsidentschaftswahl in Belarus zu erwarten ist, ZOiS Spotlight 1/2025. https://www.zois-berlin.de/publikationen/zois-spotlight/praesidentschaftswahl-in-belarus
dekoder: Dossier – Belarus: Kampf um die Zukunft. https://www.dekoder.org/de/dossier/peremen-belarus-wandel-proteste
Menschenrechtszentrum Wjasna: Liste politischer Gefangener in Belarus https://prisoners.spring96.org/en/list
European Platform for Democratic Elections: Analytical report – The situation on the eve of the elections*2025. The first report of the “Human rights defenders for free elections” campaign. https://epde.org/reports/the-situation-on-the-eve-of-the-elections2025-the-first-report-of-the-human-rights-defenders-for-free-elections-campaign/
41 min
May 23, 2024 Faith and Fissures: The Contested Independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
With Regina Elsner and Andriy Fert
The vast majority of Ukrainians are Orthodox. As recently as 2020, 14% percent considered themselves part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which has a distinct Ukrainian identity but historical ties to the Russian Orthodox Church. Given the notorious role of Patriarch Cyril in justifying the war, the UOC cut ties with Moscow and declared independence after the start of the full-scale invasion.
Two years on, criticism of the church has not died down, and the Ukrainian parliament is considering taking political measures against it. Why do many in Ukraine still see the UOC as a threat, and what do believers and active parishioners think of their church and its clergy? Regina Elsner and Andriy Fert give us an overview of the OUC and its place in Ukrainian society.
Music: “Complete” by Modul is licensed under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0-License.
Speakers:
Andriy Fert (UNET Fellow at ZOiS): https://www.zois-berlin.de/en/about-us/staff/andriy-fert
Regina Elsner (University of Münster): https://www.uni-muenster.de/FB2/personen/oekumene/abt2/elsner.html
Host: Stefanie Orphal (ZOiS): https://www.zois-berlin.de/en/about-us/staff/dr-stefanie-orphal
Further Reading:
Andry Fert: Between Scylla and Charybdis: The Ukrainian Orthodox Parish During the War: https://talkabout.iclrs.org/2023/02/24/between-scylla-and-charybdis/
Interview with Regina Elsner:
https://ukrainian-studies.ca/2024/04/30/interview-with-regina-elsner-ukraine-has-a-historical-tradition-of-religious-plurality-and-tolerance/
Interview with Dmytro Vovk about the legal issues: https://ukrainian-studies.ca/2024/03/16/interview-with-dmytro-vovk-ukrianes-church-state-relationship-may-be-changed-significantly/
More articles on the topic: https://talkabout.iclrs.org/tag/ukrainian-orthodox-church/
1 hr 2 min

About Roundtable Osteuropa

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Der Roundtable Osteuropa ist ein Podcast des Zentrums für Osteuropa- und internationale Studien (ZOiS). Hier diskutieren Wissenschaftler*innen des ZOiS und Gäste über ihre Forschung zu Osteuropa.…