Christian-Zsolt Varga

German-Hungarian freelance journalist focusing on Ukraine, Hungary, and Eastern Europe

His on-the-ground reporting from Ukraine has appeared in prominent European publications, including The Guardian, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Libération, and El Confidencial. 

Previously, he worked as the Editorial Coordinator for European Focus, a cross-border media project. As an active moderator and speaker, he frequently engages in discussions about foreign reporting, cross-border journalism, and press freedom in Central and Eastern Europe. 

Christian-Zsolt has been recognized with fellowships and grants from institutions such as the Robert Schuman Centre, IJ4EU, the Leibniz Research Network Central and Eastern Europe, and Das Progressive Zentrum.

Other speakers

Aida Čerkez

Veteran journalist, editor, and manager

Andriy Boborykin

Ukrainska Pravda; Media Development Foundation
Media manager and expert

Andriy Taranov

Suspilne (National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine)
Member of the Managing Board of Suspilne Ukraine; media and marketing expert

Angelina Kariakina

Public Interest Journalism Lab
Journalist and media manager

Anne Applebaum

The Atlantic; SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, historian, and commentator on international affairs, with a particular focus on Eastern Europe and authoritarianism

Artem Zakharchenko

“Communication Analysis Team - Ukraine” NGO
Doctor of Science in Social Communications

Catalina Gómez Ángel

Independent journalist

Daria Verbytska

Molfar Intelligence Institute
Expert in international affairs worked with inter-parliamentary relations

Dmytro Zolotukhin

Institute of Post-Information Society
Expert in strategic communications and information security

Dorka Takácsy

German Marshall Fund of the United States; Centre for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Democracy
Researcher specializing in disinformation and propaganda across Central-Eastern Europe and Russia

Hanna Arhirova

Associated Press
Journalist

Ilana Bet-El

Historian, writer, senior strategist

Janine di Giovanni

The Reckoning Project
Geopolitical analyst, award-winning war reporter

Kateryna Kobernyk

Babel
Journalist and media manager

Mikkeline Thomsen

Analyse & Tal
Researcher

Morten Hansen

Re:Cover Ukraine
Investigative journalist

Oleksandra Romantsova

Center for Civil Liberties
СЕО; human rights defender

Olena Tregub

NAKO (Independent Anti-Corruption Commission)
Expert on anti-corruption activism, defense reform, international relations, and sanctions policy

Olesia Ostrovska-Liuta

Mystetskyi Arsenal (Art Arsenal)
Art manager and curator of contemporary art

Olga Dukhnich

NV.UA; Frontier Institute
Journalist, psychologist

Solvita Denisa-Liepniece

Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences
Сommunications scholar

Timothy Garton Ash

Oxford University
Historian and Professor of European Studies

Tomáš Bella

Denník N
Journalist and media manager

Valerii Pekar

Ukrainian entrepreneur and public figure

Volodymyr Dehtyarov

13th National Guard Brigade of Ukraine, Khartiia
Public Affairs Officer

Yevhen Hlibovytsky

Frontier Institute
Expert in long-term strategies and communications

Yuliia Dukach

OpenMinds
PhD; data journalist

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