Rusif Huseynov

Co-founder, Director

Rusif Huseynov is the Co-founder and Director of Topchubashov Center, a Baku-based think tank.

His main interests are socio-political developments, frozen conflicts, and ethnic minorities, in post-Soviet countries, while his focus areas mainly cover Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia.

Mr. Huseynov obtained his bachelor’s degree from Baku State University and master’s degree from the University of Tartu.

He is a ReThink.CEE (2021) fellow with the German Marshall Fund of the United States and Local Focal Point within the EU4Dialogue project.

Mr. Huseynov also taught as an adjunct lecturer at ADA University.

He pens articles for international media outlets such as The National Interest, The Jamestown Foundation, the New Eastern Europe.

Murad Muradov 

Co-founder, Deputy Director

Murad Muradov graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from the Academy of Public Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2011), a Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Affairs from the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (2013) and a Master of Science in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics (2015). He participated in a number of training programs, summer schools and fellowships both in Azerbaijan and abroad, including the John Smith Trust Fellowship for Wider Europe (2017). His areas of expertise cover security and geopolitics of post-Soviet countries, Western European politics and international political economy.

Nigar Muzaffarova

Research Fellow

Nigar Muzaffarova is majoring at Public Policy and Social Change at the University of Tübingen. She obtained her bachelor's degree at the Academy of Public Administration. Data visualization and economic tendencies in the Caucasus region are her major fields of interest, alongside the developments in tech industries around the world. 

Nigar is an alumna of the CAT program 2019-2020 edition, Conflict School 2021 organized by the Eurasia Partnership Foundation and the "Media and Information Literacy" program of Interlink Academy in 2022.

Nigar is also specialized in writing and coordination of projects in the field of youth, especially focusing on human rights education, non-formal learning methods and peacebuilding. She has been a part of several boot camps, training and seminars on the above-mentioned topics.

Mahammad Mammadov

Research Fellow

Mahammad Mammadov is a Research Fellow at the Topchubashov Center, a Baku-based think tank. He is also an adjunct lecturer at Khazar University. 

Mr. Mammadov obtained his master's degree from the University of Glasgow and the University of Tartu. His research interests include energy, connectivity, geopolitical and transitional developments in the post-Soviet space with a specific focus on Azerbaijani foreign policy. His articles frequently appear in national as well as international publications such as the Georgian Institute of Politics, the National Interest, and the New Eastern Europe.

Gulkhanim Mammadova

Research fellow

Gulkhanim Mammadova is a researcher with a focus on gender studies, peacebuilding, and conflict transformation. She received her BA in Political Sciences from the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2015–2019), and MA in Peace and Conflict Studies from the Social Sciences University of Ankara (2019 – 2021). She has also taken a graduate certificate course in conflict analyses and mediation at the University of San Diego in 2023. She was awarded multiple merit-based scholarships for her academic endeavors. She has taken part in numerous cross-border dialogues and youth projects, such as EU4Dialogue, Corridors, and Conflict School. Gulkhanim is a John Smith Trust Fellow 2023 and a participant in the 2nd Edition of the OSCE Women’s Peace Leadership Programme.

Shujaat Ahmadzada

Research fellow

Shujaat Ahmadzada is an independent researcher focusing on conflict transformation and foreign and security policies of the South Caucasus countries. Shujaat has taken a graduate certificate course in Conflict Analysis and Mediation at the University of San Diego in 2023. He holds MA in Central and East European, Russian and Eurasian Studies from the University of Glasgow (UK) and BA in International Relations from the Academy of Public Administration (Azerbaijan). Moreover, Shujaat has years of experience in youth work, policy advisory, project management and peacebuilding.