ABOUT Shmatsina
Katsiaryna Shmatsina brings a decade of experience at the intersection of research, policy, and advocacy on authoritarianism, democratic resilience, and foreign influence. Now based in Washington, D.C., she has become a key voice in transatlantic policy circles, offering sharp insights into the political dynamics of Belarus, Russia, and the broader European security landscape.
Her current doctoral work at Virginia Tech explores governance in hybrid and authoritarian regimes. She has contributed to democracy and rule-of-law programs through positions at the International Republican Institute and the American Bar Association, and has held fellowships with the German Marshall Fund, Think Visegrad, and the European Values Center.
Targeted for her public commentary, Katsiaryna was prosecuted in absentia by the Belarusian regime and is listed on Russia’s federal wanted list. Nonetheless, her work appears in outlets such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Foreign Policy, and she is a frequent speaker at global security events. She also co-hosts In the Bunker with Darth, a podcast on Russian influence operations and authoritarian threats worldwide.
