Central Asia is Not Russia's Backyard: Nikita Makarenko

Central Asia is an intriguing, vibrant, and complex region. How many "stans" do you know? We bet your answer might be incorrect. Have you heard of the sovereign Karakalpakstan Republic within the sovereign Uzbekistan Republic? American media and academia often oversimplify this diverse region, labeling it as "Russia's backyard," which is far from the truth. Nikita Makarenko, one of the most prominent journalists and producers from Uzbekistan, will provide you with an in-depth journey into the intricacies of all the "stan" countries. As a staunch opponent of Russian propaganda, he actively resists its influence and advocates for the sovereignty and independence of his country. Nikita is a fellow of the McCain Global Leaders program and Stanford University's Fisher Family Summer School. He served as an Artist-in-Residence and Visiting Lecturer at Oberlin College in 2017 and 2019, inspiring several students to visit Uzbekistan through the OCREECAS program. Join us at Cooper International Learning Center on February 9th at 4:30 pm.

Sponsored by the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies Department and OCREECAS