Half a century after the signing of the Helsinki Accords, the values that once inspired movements for freedom and human rights are again under threat. Across Europe and beyond, authoritarian tendencies are growing, civic space is shrinking, and even mental health care is being misused as a tool of repression — echoing the darkest tactics of the past.
The Sixteenth International Sakharov Conference will gather scholars, activists, and policymakers in Vilnius to discuss these challenges and their impact on today’s human rights defenders. Following Andrei Sakharov’s belief that peace and human rights are inseparable, the conference will explore how to protect those who continue to stand for truth and dignity amid political pressure, war, and disinformation.
As new walls — visible and invisible — begin to rise, this meeting offers both reflection and a call to action: to reaffirm the principles of humanity, freedom, and justice that remain the foundation of a democratic world.
Janet H. Anderson is a journalist focused on accountability and justice for international crimes. Janet co-founded and co-presents the Asymmetrical Haircuts podcast featuring women commentators on international criminal justice. As a trainer and mentor, she supports NGOs and campaigning journalists in making impact via the media and developing their advocacy skills on a range of human rights subjects.
Nicolas Badalassi is professor of Contemporary history in Sciences po Aix and director of the Mediterranean Center for Sociology, Political Science and History (MESOPOLHIS). He is a specialist of the Cold War in Europe and the Mediterranean. His publications include: France's Mediterranean Cold War. From Charles de Gaulle to François Mitterrand (Routledge, 2026)...
Maka Berulava is a Research Analyst at the Andrei Sakharov Center for Democratic Development Research, where she works primarily with archives. She holds a BA in International Politics and Development from Vytautas the Great University (Kaunas, Lithuania)...
Dustin J. Byrd is Professor of Philosophy and Religion at The University of Olivet (USA). He specializes in political philosophy, psychoanalytic political theory, and critical theory of religion. He is the author of...
Jonathan Cohen is Executive Director of Conciliation Resources, a post he took up in 2016. Over the past 28 years at Conciliation Resources, initially as Caucasus Director and then...
Dr. Gabija Grigaite–Daugirde serves as Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, a role she assumed in late 2024. She oversees key units within the...
Janet Gunn is an independent analyst of post-Soviet and Central European politics and international relations and former expert on those regions in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (1970-2006). She served in...
Yaroslav Hrytsak is Ukrainian historian and public intellectual. He is professor at the Ukrainian Catholic University (Lviv, Ukraine) where he is director of Petro Jacyk Program for the Study of Modern Ukrainian History and Society. He also taught...
Florian Irminger is a dedicated strategist for human rights and climate justice advocacy, with exceptional experience at both national and international levels. He is founder and president of...
Jana D. Javakhishvili, Ph.D, is Professor of Psychology at Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia. Her research focuses on mental health in contexts of armed conflict and political oppression. She is actively involved in the...
Karolis Kaupinis was born in Vilnius in 1987. He studied political science and later worked as a journalist at Lithuanian National Radio and Television, where he created and hosted the program World Panorama. Since 2017, he has been working as a...
George Kent served as U.S. Ambassador to Estonia from 2023-25, capping a 33 year career as a U.S. foreign service officer (1992-2025). He served at embassies in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Warsaw, Poland, Bangkok, Thailand (twice), Kyiv, Ukraine (twice) and Tallinn, Estonia. He also had a...
Myroslav Marynovych – a President of the Institute of Religion and Society at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, Ukraine, and a Rector’s Adviser.
In the past, a founding member of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group and a...
Maia Mazurkiewicz is the president of the PZU Foundation, co-founder of Alliance4Europe and host of the television program “Anatomy of Disinformation” on TVP World. She is expert in countering disinformation and communication. She has 20 years of experience in...
Nicolas Miletitch is a French journalist. In 1978-1981, he served as a correspondent for Agence France-Presse (AFP) in Moscow from where he was expelled owing to his connections with dissidents.
Later, he was...
Andreas Persbo is Director of the Open Nuclear Network (ONN), a Vienna-based programme under the US-based PAX sapiens Foundation. He leads efforts in nuclear risk reduction, verification innovation, and open-source monitoring. His work has focused on...
Born in 1937 in Klaipėda. Poet, translator, literary scholar, and essayist. He graduated from Vilnius University, participated in dissident activities, and was a founding member of the Lithuanian Helsinki Group. In 1977, he emigrated to the United States...
Tatiana Yankelevich is an independent researcher affiliated with the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University. She was born in Russia, received her education in Moscow, and graduated from Moscow University in 1975 with MA in Russian Literature. Ms. Yankelevich immigrated to the US...
The Andrei Sakharov Research Center contributes to the development of a pluralist and democratic society in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
