Rusif Huseynov

Co-founder, Director

Rusif Huseynov is the Director of the Topchubashov Center, a Baku-based think tank. His work focuses on socio-political developments, frozen conflicts, and ethnic minorities in post-Soviet countries, with particular attention to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.

Mr. Huseynov holds a bachelor’s degree from Baku State University and a master’s degree from the University of Tartu. He has been a ReThink.CEE fellow (2021) at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, a Local Focal Point within the EU4Dialogue project, and a Think Visegrad fellow (2025).

He regularly publishes commentary and provides interviews for various international media outlets.

Gulkhanim Mammadova

Research fellow

Gulkhanim Mammadova is a South Caucasus-focused researcher and peacebuilding practitioner with over five years of experience working at the nexus of policy analysis and conflict transformation. She holds a master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the Social Sciences University of Ankara, as well as a graduate certificate in Conflict Analysis and Mediation from the University of San Diego. Gulkhanim is also a member of the OSCE Pool of Young Experts. Her research interests span conflict dynamics, identity formation, and gender studies. Her peacebuilding practice includes designing and implementing initiatives aligned with the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) and Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agendas.

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.