Olesya Vartanyan is a conflict analyst with over 15 years of experience in the South Caucasus, specializing in managing research, advocacy, communications, and donor relations. She most recently served as Senior Analyst at the International Crisis Group, where she led research on security issues in Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, with a specific focus on conflict zones. Olesya has a proven track record in policy development and contributing to confidential peace processes.
Prior to this role, Olesya worked as a journalist focused on security and conflict-related issues in Georgia and its breakaway regions. During the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, her field reporting contributed to The New York Times’ groundbreaking investigations into the origins of the conflict. She enjoyed unique access to Abkhazia, covering crisis developments for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty for a number of years. In recognition of her work, Olesya was awarded the EU Monitoring Mission’s inaugural Peace Journalism Prize in 2013.
She holds master’s degrees from King’s College London’s War Department and the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs’ Media School.