News, insights & analysis
The challenges facing our societies are complex, fast-moving and deeply interconnected. We convene our Fellows’ community online and in person, creating spaces for constructive dialogue, exchange and learning. Here, you can find individual and collective perspectives, analysis and stories from JST Fellows and partners – leaders working at the frontlines of social change across Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
From policy analysis to personal reflections and practitioner insights, this is where the JST network thinks out loud – curious, constructive and grounded in experience.
Three years on: What peace should be
The call between President Trump and President Putin on 12 February 2025, left millions of Ukrainians in a state of silent disbelief, shock, and even grief. Along with the comments…
How the power of networking can contribute to a peaceful and democratic future
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine our immediate priority was to support Ukrainian JST Fellows in our network. This included amplifying their humanitarian work, showing solidarity and sharing…
Ukraine’s stolen children – the silent crisis that threatens the future
Right now, thousands of Ukrainian children do not know if their parents are alive. Tens of thousands have been taken to Russia, while hundreds of thousands have been lost in…
Resilience and leadership: JST Fellows shaping Ukraine’s future
Three years on from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, JST Fellows are focusing on systemic change and are at the forefront of Ukraine’s democratic transformation and recovery. In 2022, JST…
Tajikistan: sustainable banking for people and economy
JST Fellow Suhayli Abdulvahhobov explains how building a strong and sustainable banking system in Tajikistan can grow the economy, mitigate climate change and improve people’s lives. Suhayli works for the…
Belarus: improving political engagement with diaspora communities
How do you sustain an opposition movement when your government has banned political parties? Political activist Ivan Kravtsov talks about his work during the 2020 Belarus election campaign and the…
Belarus: “I want to unite people through education”
Belarusian students have struggled to access international educational opportunities since the regime’s repression of dissenting voices and support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. JST Fellow and political activist Lizaveta Trakhalina…
Belarus: an election without an opposition
Exiled journalist and JST Fellow Hanna Liubakova offers an analysis of the political climate in Belarus as President Lukashenka gears up for an election engineered to extend his 30-year rule….
Moldova must defend its democratic values
Russia’s interference in Moldova’s EU referendum and presidential election is a wake-up call we must not ignore, say JST Fellows Olimpia Gribincea and Ilie Chirtoacă. Moldova’s EU referendum delivered a…
Fellows call for Georgian state to protect human rights and end violence
JST Fellows from Georgia are calling for the state to protect human rights amid ongoing violence against peaceful protesters following the country’s parliamentary elections on 26 October. Georgian Dream, the…
Justice for torture survivors in Belarus
What does justice look like for torture survivors when the perpetrators remain in power? Viktoryia Fiodarava is working on a plan to amplify the opinions of survivors of torture in…
Welcome to Lord Boateng
The Rt Hon. the Lord Boateng has recently joined JST as a special advisor. As Labour MP for Brent South from 1987 to 2005, Lord Boateng served under John Smith…