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PhD student Olesya Vartanyan briefs U.S. Congress on the political situation in Georgia

Paul Snodgrass — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 19:53:11 +0000

PhD student Olesya Vartanyan briefs U.S. Congress on the political situation in Georgia Paul Snodgrass Wed, 03/04/2026 - 14:53

On February 11, 2026, Olesya Vartanyan, a first-year PhD student at �鶹��Ƶ's Carter School and conflict analyst with more than 15 years of field experience in the South Caucasus, took part in a congressional briefing on the political situation in Georgia. The event was hosted by the U.S. Helsinki Commission, a bipartisan body bringing together members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. In recent years, the commission has been a leading voice in shaping U.S. policy toward Georgia, particularly following the country’s political crisis triggered by the disputed parliamentary elections of 2024.

Olesya Vartanyan. Photo provided

Vartanyan was invited to share her assessment of developments in Georgia and to outline possible pathways toward resolving the protracted political standoff. Her long-standing work on conflict dynamics, negotiation processes, and crisis management in the region formed the basis of her recommendations.

This was not her first engagement with the U.S. Congress. In 2020, she testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the situation in Georgia’s conflict regions, which remain disputed territories following multiple wars involving Russia. In 2024, she also briefed members of Congress on developments between Armenia and Azerbaijan after renewed cycles of violence in their decades-long conflict.

Her most recent appearance came at a particularly sensitive moment. More than a year into Georgia’s political crisis, tensions remain high between the ruling authorities and opposition forces. The Georgian leadership has sought to reset relations with the current U.S. administration, amid ongoing international concerns regarding the 2024 election results in Georgia, the detention of opposition figures, and the adoption of restrictive legislation affecting civil society. At the same time, the European Union has signaled the possibility of additional measures in response to democratic backsliding.

Olesya Vartanyan testifying before a hearing of Helsinki Commission leadership from the House and Senate in 2024.

The congressional event also took place against a broader geopolitical backdrop. The United States has shown increased interest in expanding trade and transport connectivity between Central Asia and Europe through the South Caucasus. Following U.S.-facilitated diplomatic efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2025, Washington has emphasized regional stability as a strategic priority.

In her remarks, Vartanyan structured her recommendations around three core lessons drawn from Georgia’s own political history. She argued that any sustainable reset in U.S.-Georgia relations must be grounded in a genuine political settlement inside the country. She outlined a roadmap centered on inclusive dialogue, compromise across political divides, and a longer-term vision for institutional reform.

“No process will succeed without a real prospect of equal access to power for all political groups,” she stated, arguing that technical reforms alone are insufficient if political actors do not believe that power can change hands peacefully. The process, she suggested, should include elements of transitional justice as well as political agreements capable of restoring public trust.

The United States, she noted, remains uniquely positioned to encourage meaningful dialogue. “No process can succeed without a strong external guarantor,” she said, referencing earlier moments when international mediation helped overcome political stalemate in Georgia.

She also cautioned that U.S. sanctions should be used strategically and paired with diplomacy. Drawing on comparative experience, she observed that punitive measures are most effective when complemented by political engagement; absent diplomatic follow-up, they risk entrenching positions and increasing pressure on vulnerable groups within society.

Linking domestic reform to international strategy, Vartanyan warned that “without meaningful contribution to a political resolution, no reset in U.S.–Georgia relations will be sustainable.” If the structural roots of the crisis remain unaddressed, she argued, Georgia risks entering repeated cycles of instability, with consequences for its sovereignty and for broader regional security.

The briefing attracted considerable attention both in Georgia and among policymakers in the United States and Europe. Broadcast live, it was followed by viewers in Georgia despite the late hour. Local media outlets widely reported on the discussion, and transcripts of Vartanyan’s remarks circulated in both English and Georgian. Commentators across the political spectrum described the proposals as a structured and actionable roadmap for beginning a credible political process.

Although Georgia’s political crisis remains unresolved, the congressional exchange reinforced the central message of her intervention: that stability cannot be achieved through tactical resets alone. By linking domestic political reform to broader regional and strategic considerations, Vartanyan’s remarks positioned crisis resolution not as a concession to one side, but as a prerequisite for Georgia’s long-term resilience and for effective U.S. engagement in the South Caucasus. At a moment of heightened polarization, her intervention introduced a policy framework that moved the discussion from managing crisis to resolving it.

Carter School News

PhD student Olesya Vartanyan briefs U.S. Congress on the political situation in Georgia
March 4, 2026
Carter School welcomes Walk for Peace to Northern Virginia
February 18, 2026
Study abroad influenced this graduating senior’s worldview
December 2, 2025
Where Elements Meet: The Glow of Unity
July 1, 2025

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Carter School welcomes Walk for Peace to Northern Virginia

Katarina Benson — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:21:35 +0000

Carter School welcomes Walk for Peace to Northern Virginia Katarina Benson Wed, 02/18/2026 - 13:21

From October to mid-February, the Venerable Buddhist monks of the Dhammacetiya Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center of Fort Worth, Texas walked more than 2,300 miles to Washington, D.C. Known as the Walk for Peace, their goal was to raise awareness of the global need for peace as well as how we can practice and foster peace in our own lives and neighborhoods.

Carter School students Angelina Di Matteo and Grace McIntyre traveled to Fort Belvoir to greet the monks as they arrived for their lunch break at the Chùa Hoa Nghiêm temple. Photo provided

On February 8and 9, students and staff from �鶹��Ƶ’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution gathered together in the cold and wind to greet and witness the Walk for Peace.

The monks, ranging in age from 29-68, represent monasteries and temples from around the globe. In past years, they have gathered for walks in other locations across the globe, including India, Cambodia, and Thailand. They gather when there is a sense that the world is in crisis, and peace is especially needed.

On Sunday, February 8, Carter School undergraduates Angelina Di Matteo and Grace McIntyre traveled to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to greet the monks as they arrived for their lunch break at the Chùa Hoa Nghiêm temple. Carter School doctoral student Heather Rosso was one of the volunteers escorting the monks as they arrived at the temple.

Rosso had been following the Walk for Peace on Facebook when she noticed a call for volunteers at the Virginia locations and volunteered. “We were told to be prepared for anything, including the cold weather, so I bundled up and headed to the temple.”

Rosso’s assignment was to escort the monks through the temple grounds while maintaining crowd control and respect for the monks. In addition to typical crowd control for an event, the monks required special care and attention. “For monastic reasons, we had to be sure nobody touched or approached the monks.”

"It was an amazing experience," said Rosso, who studies U.S. mass violence, extremism, and coercive control. "It was bitter cold and windy, filled with love and peace, long hours on our feet, and over in what seemed like the blink of an eye. I was so honored to have been among those chosen to assist as a volunteer that morning."

The next day, February 9, one of the last days of the walk, George �鶹��Ƶ students, members of the Carter School, and �鶹��Ƶ Square faculty and staff greeted the monks as they passed by Vernon Smith Hall at �鶹��Ƶ Square in Arlington, Virginia. They were joined by the Rotarians from District 7620. The Rotary is a Carter School partner organization, as both share a mission of fostering peace locally and globally. Participants laid yellow flower petals along the monks’ path, and greeted them with a banner, flowers, and signs representing the Carter School for peace studies.

The gathering was an incredible experience filled with “fellowship, hope, peacefulness, healing, resilience,” said Shirley Al-Jarani, director of operations for the �鶹��Ƶ Instructional Foundation (GMUIF). Al-Jarani captured the experience well when she recalled, “The hope I felt as a group of virtual strangers [as we] talked in fellowship getting to know each other realizing we may never meet again but we were connected in that moment and stood together in solidarity for peace and hope.”

From left, Mark Flanigan, Paul Snodgrass, Monica Solis, Heather Rosso, Shirley Al-Jarani, Angela Mandizvidza, and Rotary's Mari Clark welcomed the Walk for Peace with a banner as the monks made their way through Arlington. Photo provided

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Study abroad influenced this graduating senior’s worldview

Katarina Benson — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 23:30:30 +0000

Study abroad influenced this graduating senior’s worldview Katarina Benson Tue, 12/02/2025 - 18:30

Honor College student Cashlyn Bonds said her time at �鶹��Ƶ has been defined by her passion for justice, human security, and international understanding.

She graduates in December with a BA in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a concentration in human security and justice, from the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. She also has minors in intelligence studies and Spanish.

Her commitment to understanding and resolving global conflicts through empathy, research, and collaboration are the driving forces behind her academic success, she said.

Bonds has studied all over the globe. In the summer of 2023, she participated in a study-abroad program in the Balkans, traveling to Bosnia and Croatia through �鶹��Ƶ Korea to study the aftermath of the Yugoslav Wars.

Cashlyn Bonds. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Most recently, she completed a semester-long exchange program in Madrid, Spain, where she furthered her cross-cultural understanding and Spanish proficiency.

“The global perspective and meeting people from all around the world has proved to be the most influential thing in my life,” Bonds said of her time at George �鶹��Ƶ.

Her commitment to service at George �鶹��Ƶ began her first year when she joined George �鶹��Ƶ’s chapter of Camp Kesem, for children whose parents have had cancer. She attended the camp as a child growing up in Metairie, Louisiana.

“Knowing that you were part of something as a child and seeing how you can continue the cycle and continue spreading joy fulfills you and fulfills the community,” she said.

She also served as the communications director for the university’s chapter of Pi Gamma Mu, the International Honor Society in Social Sciences.

After graduation, she plans to continue her education and pursue a career in international law and humanitarian advocacy. She hopes to use the knowledge and perspective she gained at George �鶹��Ƶ to create meaningful change and promote peace and equity across communities.

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Where Elements Meet: The Glow of Unity

Paul Snodgrass — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:49:12 +0000

Where Elements Meet: The Glow of Unity Paul Snodgrass Tue, 07/01/2025 - 10:49

For the past 10 years, the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George �鶹��Ƶ has partnered with Shinnyo-en Foundation in their shared mission of developing young people as peacebuilders. In a world of division, both the Carter School and Shinnyo-en Foundation seek to bring groups together, navigate darkness, and illuminate paths toward peace.

Hawaii’s Shinnyo Lantern Floating Ceremony. 2025. Photo provided.

Each year, Hawaii’s Shinnyo Lantern Floating Ceremony draws thousands to Ala Moana Beach on Memorial Day. This year, Jane Walker, Director of Student Services at the Carter School, was brought to the festival by Shinnyo-en Foundation as a special guest.

The Lantern Floating Ceremony honors those who have passed, offering a collective moment for reflection, remembrance, and hope. The lanterns are released onto the water at sunset, symbolizing peace and connection across time and space. This year, 6,000 lanterns were set afloat, each representing personal stories of heartbreak and gratitude, among many other emotions of the evening.

Jane Walker with a group of students. Photo provided.

Walker described the experience as profound. “I was moved by the quiet power of the ceremony and the shared human longing for peace, healing, and unity. It reminded me why peacebuilding work matters. The message, centered around fire and water—opposing elements, yet coexisting, deeply resonated with me. The lanterns, though fragile, lit the night without being extinguished or consumed. They floated through uncertain waters, offering light and harmony. This inspiring event refueled my commitment to support peacebuilding work.”

In the past, Shinnyo-en Foundation offered a Fellowship to a single Carter School undergraduate student each year. This year, the foundation shifted their funding to support the Carter School’s Conflict Resolution Youth Summit (CRYS), a four-day learning experience for high school students to learn leadership and conflict resolution skills and to discuss current issues facing society.

Jessica Jeffers, Shinnyo-en Fellow 2024-25. Photo provided.

The final Shinnyo-en Fellow was Jessica Jeffers, who, during her 2024-25 fellowship, worked with Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services in the Fairfax County Youth Innovation Unit. Jeffers worked with this unit to support the implementation of Re-Engagement Centers across Fairfax County, which assist youth ages 14–24 in continuing their educational journey and/or beginning their career pathways.

Jeffers further strengthened her skills in coordinating career fairs, facilitating youth focus groups, and supporting the development of a restorative justice initiative that focuses on peer-to-peer practices

The partnership between the Carter School and Shinnyo-en Foundation represents more than just shared programs or events; it embodies a commitment to the belief that peace is achievable and that young people are vital to creating it. When we work together, our lights combine to illuminate even the darkest waters.