This month, Online Talks on Eurasian Media, TaRC and the Russian Media Lab’s (University of Helsinki) collaborative initiative, has a real treat to anyone interested in the Caucasus region!
On Tuesday 14 October, we will hear from photographer and Caucasus expert Mikko Palonkorpi who will present his new nonfiction book titled Vuoristolaiset — Kaukasian salaisuuksien jäljillä (Vastapaino 2025, co-authored with Ville Ropponen).
The book explores remote mountain settlements in the South Caucasus, following the authors’ journeys through hard-to-reach villages and regions. Beyond travelogue, the book delves into the complex history, politics, and unresolved conflicts of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, as well as energy-related issues affecting the region.
Palonkorpi’s presentation extends the cultural and media-related perspectives to current challenges democracy and media are facing in the South Caucasus – for example, the state of press freedom and the role of independent journalism. Vuoristolaiset offers rich examples of the diverse artistic expresssions in the South Caucasus region, including literature, film, music, and visual arts.
Speaker bio:
Mikko Palonkorpi is a photographer and Caucasus expert who has specialized in the politics of the South Caucasus region (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan). Palonkorpi has previously worked as a researcher at the Aleksanteri Institute. The book Vuoristolaiset — Kaukasian salaisuuksien jäljillä has been published by Vastapaino in September 2025.
Event info:
This Online Talk will be held on Zoom on Tuesday 14 October, 12.00–13.30 Finnish time (EET DST, GMT+3). Discussion will be moderated by Dr Olga Dovbysh (University of Helsinki).
Participation in the event requires registration. Please register via this link before Sunday 12 October at 23.59.