Civil Resistance Forum 2026 - kiprolietuviai.eu

EXPLORING CIVIL RESISTANCE

The Lithuanian Community in Cyprus, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the Hellenic Republic and Community of Ukrainian-Cypriot Friendship, is proud to present the third edition of the Civil Resistance Forum, taking place on 23 October 2026 in Nicosia, Cyprus (University of Cyprus, Old Campus).

This year, the forum will bring together voices from Cyprus, Ukraine, Lithuania and beyond to explore “The Long Fight” – how resistance, solidarity and public support can be sustained over time, especially when international attention and support begin to fade.

By drawing on the experiences of Cyprus, Ukraine and Lithuania, we aim to examine the challenges of sustaining support and engagement over the long term, and the role of civil society, diaspora communities, media and advocacy.

Key topics include:

Sustaining solidarity through a long war – keeping people engaged and civic action sustainable beyond the initial response
Civil resistance beyond the front line – the role of civilian networks, volunteers and communities in a prolonged war
Occupation, law and diplomacy – the challenges of pursuing resolution when occupation and conflict remain unresolved
Disinformation and foreign influence – the spread of manipulative narratives and the role of media and fact-checking
Culture as resistance – the importance of cultural resilience in defending democratic societies

The programme will feature individual speeches from respected academics, activists and practitioners, as well as panel discussions for in-depth exchange.

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

Check our Facebook Event for more updates.

Fill out the application form by the 23rd of October 2026, and secure your place at the forum.

Join us in Nicosia for a day of discussion, learning and networking as we look at how people and communities can keep going, stay involved and support each other over the long term.

Speakers and Discussion Moderators

Andrius Kalindra

Ambassador of Lithuania to Greece, Cyprus and Albania

Ambassador Andrius Kalindra is an experienced Lithuanian diplomat with over two decades of service in foreign policy, international relations and multilateral diplomacy. Throughout his career, he has held senior positions in the Lithuanian Government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, served as Ambassador to Georgia and Ambassador-at-Large for the Reconstruction and Recovery of Ukraine, and represented Lithuania at the United Nations and the OSCE. His expertise spans international security, diplomatic negotiations and cooperation with international organisations.

Dr. Marios P. Efthymiopoulos

Associate Professor of International Security, Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania/ Director/ Strategy International (SI)

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.

Jonas Ohman

Journalist/Filmmaker/Co-founder of Blue/Yellow

Jonas Ohman is of Swedish origin, living in Lithuania. He is a filmmaker, translator, journalist and language teacher. At the beginning of the war in Ukraine he, together with partners and friends in Lithuania, set up NGO Blue/Yellow for support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and for helping the civilian population in Donbass area.

Tetiana Pushnova

Communication advisor/ Ukraine Cultural Heritage Fund

Tetiana Pushnova is a cultural communications expert and media manager with over 20 years of experience in journalism as an editor, producer, and reporter. She has produced news bulletins, talk shows, and analytical programs for TSN (1+1 TV Channel), Hromadske, and Channel 5, and she also launched and executive-produced the international news channel Ukraine Today.

Alkas Paltarokas

CEO/ Public relations/Communication expert

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”, other projects worldwide. A. Paltarokas is an entrepreneur and leader of civil society initiatives.

Viktoriia Polishchuk

Ukrainian Attorney-at-Law/ CEDR Accredited Mediator and Council of Europe expert

She serves as Chair of the Labour Law Committee of the Ukrainian National Bar Association and, since 2024, as the official Representative of the Ukrainian National Bar Association in the Republic of Cyprus. Based in Cyprus, Viktoriia works closely with the Ukrainian community and focuses on labour and social rights, mediation, conflict resolution and the challenges faced by Ukrainians living abroad.

Gary Rafalovsky

CEO of Swarmly LTD

Gary is CEO of Swarmly LTD, a Limassol-based Cypriot manufacturer of unmanned aerial and maritime systems, with thousands of systems contracted worldwide. More than 200 of its Poseidon VTOL UAVs serve with Ukraine’s Armed Forces, which Swarmly has supported since before Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion. The company also supplies hundreds of UAVs and unmanned surface vessels to the Cypriot National Guard.

Following 9/11, Gary contributed to the development of the US Department of Defense’s network-centric warfare doctrine. In 2015, as an adviser to Ukraine’s Chief of the General Staff, he was the original architect of the DELTA system.

Previously, his US company developed a pioneering tactical UAV flight-control system. Nearly 20,000 units were manufactured, and the system remains in service with more than 20 militaries, including Ukraine’s.

Khrystyna Ped

Ukrainian journalist/ TV and radio host

Khrystyna Ped is a Ukrainian journalist, TV and radio host, international event director, and EAUW Event Director. She is also a Ukrainian community activist and the founder of WONDERPEOPLE, a Ukrainian community initiative, and PEDTALK – No Lies, a YouTube project. Her work brings together journalism, broadcasting, international events, and community engagement. She will moderate the Civil Resistance Forum.

Marek Szczepanowski

Ambassador of Poland to Cyprus

Ambassador Marek Szczepanowski has been a career diplomat since 2001, having graduated from the National School of Public Administration. He holds degrees in international relations and national security from the University of Warsaw. For much of his professional career, first at the Office of the Committee for European Integration and subsequently at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he dealt with issues relating to Poland’s integration and its membership of the European Union.
He has also served at Polish diplomatic missions in Italy. Since 2023, he has been Ambassador of Poland to Cyprus.

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.