Civil Resistance Forum - kiprolietuviai.eu

EXPLORING CIVIL RESISTANCE

The Lithuanian community in Cyprus, in collaboration with the Community of Ukrainian-Cypriot Friendship, is organizing a Civil Resistance Forum on September 21st, 2024, in Nicosia, Cyprus (University of Cyprus, Shakolas Educational Centre building, Amphitheater B115).

This forum will offer a day of insightful discussions and presentations on the topic of civil resistance and its role in safeguarding democratic values, with a special focus on its relevance amid the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine. By examining the experience of Ukraine and other countries, we seek to identify common challenges and explore potential solutions.

It’s a great opportunity to learn more about how communities and individuals can respond to global challenges and support democratic values. Additionally, we will examine the specific challenges faced by Cyprus in the context of external influence.

Key topics to be covered include:

The role of information warfare in undermining democracies
The power of education, arts, and culture in fostering resistance
The impact of international organizations on civil society
The importance of evidence-based advocacy and grassroots organizing
The media’s influence in shaping public opinion

Esteemed speakers, including ambassadors, academics, journalists and activists, will share their insights and experiences. Panel discussions will provide opportunities for in-depth dialogue and knowledge exchange.

The forum will conclude with a movie screening that highlights the power of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Here you can find a full program of the Civil Resistance Forum.

Check our Facebook Event for more updates.

Fill out the application form by the 18th of September 2024, and secure your place at the forum.

Join us for a day of learning, networking, and inspiration as we work together to build a more resilient and democratic future!

Speakers and Discussion Moderators

Darius Remeika

Cognitive and behavioural engineer / crisis communication / lecturer / PhD candidate

Darius Remeika is an expert in psychological operations and influence, with a focus on countering disinformation. His expertise lies in psychological operations, information warfare, and behaviour change. He has extensive experience working in challenging environments such as Afghanistan and Ukraine.

Dr. Marios P. Efthymiopoulos

CEO/ Senior Consultant/ International Security & Strategy

Dr. Marios P. Efthymiopoulos is an expert in international security and strategic affairs. His capabilities and capacities have been developed through his life experiences holding extensive national and international, multidisciplinary approaches and field experiences, in a variety of related fields.

Maryna Slobodyanyuk

Head Of Analytical Department/ Field Researcher

Maryna Slobodyanuk is the Head of Analytical Department at Truth Hounds. With extensive experience in war crimes investigations, she leads field missions and shares the organization’s expertise with law enforcement and academic institutions. Her work includes documenting evidence, training investigators, and collaborating with international partners.

Boris Demash

Journalist/ Founder of Cyprus Daily News

Boris Demash is a journalist who moved to Cyprus in 2010. He founded Cyprus Daily News in 2018 and his investigative articles have exposed Russian agents and influenced government discussions. He has actively supported Ukraine by highlighting Russian atrocities to the Cypriot public.

Dr. Dmitrij Chmelnizki

Investigative Journalist/ Author/ Historian

Dr. Dmitry Chmelnizki is an architect and historian specializing in World War II and Soviet intelligence. He emigrated to Germany in 1987, earned a PhD there and authored several books on Soviet history and Russian influence. His recent work focuses on exposing Russian influence agents in Germany.

Alkas Paltarokas

CEO/ Public relations/Communication Specialist

Alkas Paltarokas is the director of the NGO „Strategic Initiative Center” in Lithuania, and an expert on hybrid warfare, disinformation, and security. He also leads the „Put In Jail” and „Vanago Lietuva” projects and is an entrepreneur and public relations specialist.

Ksenja Oksin

Visual Artist / Social Activist

Ksenja Oksin is a visual artist with a background in contemporary art, architecture, and digital media. Her work focuses on human issues and raises awareness of pressing social concerns through a wide range of media, including installation, performance, photography, digital art, and fine art. She participated in the Revolution of Dignity as a volunteer and independent artist and worked in Donetsk as an assistant for foreign press in Ukraine in 2014, witnessing the Russian invasion from the very beginning. In recent years, Ksenja has created a number of art performances in collaboration with Ukrainian activists in Cyprus.

Shukhrat Khannanov

Co-founder of the „Tatars against ruscism” movement/ Street-level activist.

Shukhrat Khannanov is a co-founder of the ‘Tatars against ruscism’ movement whose main objective is to raise awareness of the crimes committed by imperialist Russia against Ukraine, Georgia, and ethnic minorities in Russia. He is a street-level activist with a large portfolio of successfully executed fundraisers, charity events, and pickets/rallies. He advocates for a greater recognition of how Russia has consistently diminished the civil rights of tatars, bashkorts, and other indigenous peoples.

Ksenia Mukhortova

Ukrainian community leader and activist / Co-founder of UKRCY.news

Ksenia Mukhortova since 2014 is an activist, a volunteer and one of the leaders of the Ukrainian community in Cyprus. For the last 10 years she has been administering the largest FB group of the Ukrainian diaspora “Ukrainians in Cyprus”. In 2018 she became a member, then a board member, a vice-president and finally a president of the Community of Ukrainian-Cypriot Friendship. In 2020 she became a co-founder and a cubs instructor of Ukrainian scouts organization Plast in Cyprus. In 2023 she co-founded UKRCY.news – the first Ukrainian media in Cyprus. Also she is an actress of the first Ukrainian theater in Cyprus “Kryla”.

Agita Beržanskaitė

Chairwoman | Lithuanian World Youth Association

Agita Beržanskaitė is a final-year student of International Public Policy at The Hague University in The Netherlands, with a strong passion for communities, international relations, and diplomacy. She currently serves as the chairperson of the Lithuanian World Youth Association, Inc., an organization connecting Lithuanian youth living abroad since 1972. Agita’s primary goal is to contribute to a more open and secure world. She is currently completing her internship here in Cyprus, further enriching her international experience

Lyolya Filimonova

Ukrainian activist/ PR & Communications Coordinator of the Community of Ukrainian-Cypriot Friendship and ambassadress of Ukrainian culture in Cyprus

Since May 2022, Lyolya has been a cultural lecturer and community leader in Larnaca, managing the „Larnaca Ukrainians” Telegram Channel and serving as PR & Communications Coordinator for the Community of Ukrainian-Cypriot Friendship. With over 13 years in project management and tourism, including promoting Ukrainian cinema in Cyprus, she has organized over 150 pro-Ukrainian events and led 15+ international flash mobs. Lyolya also manages the Anchor-Heart of Odesa memorial, founded the „Wandering Brotherhood of Vasyl Hryhorovych-Barsky” project, and maintains a 250+ book Ukrainian section at Oroklini Municipal Library.

Oleksandra Hryhorenko

Ukrainian activist/ project manager & IT specialist at TCCC.org.ua

Oleksandra Hryhorenko works on the TCCC.org.ua project as project coordinator and IT manager. She initially joined the project as a translator in February 2023 and due to her initiative, competence, and desire to drive change, she has taken on additional responsibilities and now helps in the administration and coordination of various sub-projects. Oleksandra values professionalism and respect and does not tolerate ignorance and arrogance. She has a degree in mass media, which helps her in her work and everyday life.