Cholpon Orozobekova, Director
Cholpon Orozobekova is a conflict analyst and terrorism expert. She is the author of the book “Foreign Fighters and International Peace”. Before joining the Bulan Institute, she worked with UN OHCHR, ISHR, and Foundation Au Coeur des Grottes in Geneva. Cholpon worked for 17 years in international media and her analyses appeared in the Diplomate Magazine, Jamestown Foundation, RFE/RL, and IWPR. Cholpon holds three Master’s degrees from Geneva-based public universities. Cholpon also lectures at the GCSP for Preventing Violent Extremism course as a guest speaker.
Sara Shadab Arab, Research Assistant
Sara joined the Bulan Institute in December 2020. She is a PhD candidate in the International History Department at the Graduate Institute, Geneva. Her doctoral research problematizes the intersection of caste and Cow Protection within the ambit of British colonial rule in nineteenth century Western India. Apart from a Master in International History at the Graduate Institute, Sara also holds a Master in History and Bachelor of Education from University of Mumbai, with a professional experience as an educator in History and English for about a decade in Mumbai. She is interested in conducting research on issues of colonization, caste, political violence and violent extremism.
Zachary Fesen, Research Assistant
Zachary is pursuing a Master’s degree in International Relations and Political Science at the Geneva Graduate Institute. Prior to joining the Bulan Institute, Zachary worked as a research assistant with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. His research examines issues related to international security, political violence, and violent extremism.
Tristan Harnisch, Research Assistant
Tristan joined the Bulan Institute in October 2022. He is a recent graduate of University College Dublin and the University of Potsdam where he received two master’s degrees in the field of International War Studies. Tristan’s research is mainly aimed at studying U.S. counterinsurgency operational doctrines, specifically relating to the field of counternarcotics. Apart from these degrees, Tristan also holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science and International Studies from Thomas More University (KY). Tristan speaks Spanish, German, French, and English.
Muska Karimi, Research Assistant
Ms. Muska Karimi has more than eight years of professional experience developing and reviewing human rights and gender strategies, legal frameworks, policies, reports, and work plans. She worked as a Human Rights and Gender Director at the Ministry of Defense of Afghanistan from 2018 to 2021. She also worked as a Project Manager at USAID and as a National Advisor at Aga Khan Foundation. Ms. Karimi served as a National Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan from 2012 to 2013. She holds three MA degrees from Ohio Northern University, the University of Geneva, and the International Anti-Corruption Academy.
Hafizullah Nadiri, Research Assistant
Hafizullah Nadiri holds a Bachelor in Law and Political Science from Kabul University and an LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights from the Geneva Academy in Geneva. He also holds MA in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Geneva. His research interests focus on peacebuilding, terrorism studies, and human rights advocacy. Hafizullah previously worked as a lawyer at the Ministry of Justice in Afghanistan and with the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, and Fight for Humanity in Geneva.
Sarah Wolfe, Senior Researcher
Sarah is a clinical psychologist and researcher who has been involved in the Prevention of Violent Extremism project with a specific focus on the rehabilitation and reintegration of foreign fighters. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, both from the University of Liverpool, UK. Sarah’s clinical specialties are complex trauma and rights-based approaches to care in the context of children’s safeguarding, fostering, and adoption. Sarah’s doctoral thesis informed rights-based approaches to dementia care by generating new understandings of the concept of autonomy according to people living with dementia.