Polina Piatnytsia

Biography

My name is Polina Piatnytsia and I am a fourth-year student of International Relations, who actively engaged in civic activities primarily aimed at building bridges of trust between Ukraine and foreign countries. I am a co-founder of the “Ukrainian-Gulf Cooperation Platform”^ the “Ukrainian-East Asian House”, and South Caucasus researcher at the ADASTRA analytical center.

My interest in this region began during my first year of university, specifically with Azerbaijan. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Ukraine visited us for a guest lecture and began talking about a country that was completely unfamiliar to me at the time. From that moment, I began learning more, joined the organization of cultural projects, art evenings, and youth competitions aimed at developing bilateral relations between Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

I have always believed that culture has the power to touch the heart. You might not remember a leader's political statement or get lost in historical facts, but you will always remember the armudu that struck you with its beauty or the taste of bakhlava, which will forever be associated for you with its country of origin. This was my vision, and working in this direction, I did what I believed in. Unfortunately, in Ukraine, we are still face with numerous prejudices regarding the peoples of the region. Some add a lifelong label of "pro-Russian friends" on them, while others approach interaction with the Caucasian mentality with caution.

It seemed to me that the problem with this perception is that we simply know too little about these wonderful countries. Therefore, when writing my articles, I have always been guided by the idea that I want to prepare information about the region in a language understandable to the majority of readers.

Gradually immersing myself in the atmosphere of these events, I fell more and more in love with the Caucasian flavor. That is how the first authentic Azerbaijani armudu and the exquisite kelaghayi appeared in my life.

Later, I discovered Georgia. Walks along the ancient paths of Mtskheta and the cozy streets of Tbilisi and Batumi allowed me to see the country from new perspectives. It was an introduction to a deep culture and an incredible gastronomic tradition, which particularly stood out to me because of the people - people whose devotion to their homeland and love for their home are deeply remarkable.

Then came Armenia - a country with a millennium-old history and a rich culture. A country that, in my opinion, shares much in common with Ukraine. Shared mistakes and similar achievements.

Today, as part of my work at ADASTRA, I study the domestic and foreign policies of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia, and analyze their interactions with each other as well as with key global and regional players. I research the diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between the South Caucasus countries and Ukraine. I strive to show ukrainian readers the South Caucasus as I have seen it myself.