Center for International Studies

The massive attack of the Ukrainians on the Russian oil industry and the unprecedented activation of Europe Nika Chitadze Professor of the International Black Sea University Director of the Center for International Studies    Ukraine has a new strategy - purposefully attacking Russian oil refineries to create fuel shortages. Ukraine carried out drone attacks on several oil facilities, including the oil refinery in the Ryazan region, which is one of the major suppliers of the Moscow region. This is a significant blow to the logistics of the Russians, as it makes it difficult to supply the front with fuel. Russians need an average of 18,000 tons of fuel per day, and Russia will be forced to transport fuel from further distances, which increases the time, distance, and costs of delivery, and at the same time increases their vulnerability. At the same time, the Legion "Freedom of Russia" fighting on the side of Ukraine achieves success during various military operations on th...

  Black Sea Security and Geopolitics in 21 st Century: From Theory into Practice - A “New Cold War” Scenario   Dr. Vakhtang Maisaia Professor, Deputy Director of the Center for International Studies   Abstract: The Black Sea region is increasingly becoming a priority on the international agenda. In fact, a regional approach is emerging as actors understand that common problems need to be addressed jointly. Nevertheless, cooperation efforts are hampered by a number of factors, such as uneven economic and political development within and among countries, nationalist forces, and longstanding animosities between regional players. In this context, it is imperative to foster sound policies aimed at strengthening dialogue and cooperation so as to contain and ultimately resolve conflicts with peaceful means. However, there is little policy-oriented research on the challenges and opportunities for cooperation in the Black Sea region. The purpose of this paper is to ass...

  Azerbaijan-Russia Geoeconomic Links and Its Consequences   On March 5-6 th 2024 suddenly Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin paid official visit to Azerbaijan where he met with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Alliev and Prime Minister Ali Asadov. It is interesting to note that negotiations between PM of Russia and President of Azerbaijan lasted for 3 years and such a long dialogue was even beyond of protocol and never fixed before between the parties. At the beginning of the dialogues the PM of Russia congratulated to Ilham Aliev with blatant victory at the Presidential race on 7 February 2024. According to some information, PM of Russia Mishutsin delivered to Aliev personal letter from the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. However, main topic of the three hours discussion were the following: ·          Promotion and involvement of Azerbaijan into the Russia’s new geoeconomic project “North-South” from Sankt-Petersburg til...