Mailing address
Littauer 335
79 JFK St.
Cambridge, MA, 02138
Simon Saradzhyan
Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Contact:
Telephone: 617-496-8228
Email: simon_saradzyhan@ksg.harvard.edu
Experience
Simon Saradzhyan is a research fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center.
His research interests include nuclear and conventional terrorism, defence, security and space affairs in Russia and other newly-independent states.
Prior to joining the Belfer Center, Simon worked as deputy editor of the Moscow Times. Saradzhyan has also worked as a researcher for East West Institute and as a consultant for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), researching and co-writing a scenario-planning report on the situtation in the North Caucasus.
Saradzhyan has also earlier worked as Moscow correspondent for Defense News and contributed scores of articles to other publications, ranging from tthe Times of London and the Sunday Telegraph to Space News and Homeland Defense Journal, earning сcertificate of merit from the commander of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces for his coverage of Russia's military affairs.
Saradzhyan is author of several papers on terrorism and security, including "Russia: Grasping Reality of Nuclear Terror," published in the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, and "Russia's System to Combat Terrorism and Its Application in Chechnya" in the "National Counter-Terrorism Strategies" of NATO Security through Science Series. In his capacity as an expert on Russia's defense, security and foreign affairs, Saradzhyan has appeared on BBC, CBS and NPR as well as on Russian radio and television stations.
Saradzhyan co-founded and served as the first president of Harvard Club of Russia in 2004-2006.
Saradzhyan earned a Masters in Public Administration the John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2002.
October 22, 2009
"Russian Nuke Plans, Overkill"
Op-Ed, International Relations and Security Network
By Simon Saradzhyan, Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
The Russian military and security community's drive to expand the use of nuclear weapons in the new defense doctrine will add little value to deterring real threats, but may undermine Russia's image as a co-leader of nuclear arms control, Simon Saradzhyan comments for ISN Security Watch.
September 11, 2009
Russia's Support for Zero: Tactical Move or Long-term Commitment?
Paper
By Simon Saradzhyan, Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Although powerful contingents within the Russian leadership ascribe significant value to the various roles played by the country's nuclear arsenal, they have nonetheless enumerated consecutive or simultaneous external conditions necessary for Russia to embark on the road towards eliminating nuclear weapons. These include: universal implementation of existing nuclear arms control and nonproliferation treaties; further and irreversible cuts in U.S.-Russian nuclear arsenals; constraints on U.S. missile defense and enhancement of Russian conventional forces; and resolution of major conflicts. Subsequently, there will be a verifiable accounting of all nuclear powers' nuclear arsenals, their reduction and elimination, followed by guarantees that no country or sub-state actor would be able to develop/acquire such weapons in the future.
September 4, 2009
"Pan-European Security: Considering Russia"
Op-Ed, International Relations and Security Network
By Simon Saradzhyan, Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
The US and the EU should respond to Russia's call for a substantive discussion of Moscow's proposal for a new pan-European security treaty before the current system generates another failure on the scale of the wars in the former Yugoslavia or in South Ossetia, Simon Saradzhyan argues in ISN Security Watch.
August 24, 2009
Ingushetia: Counterterrorism Failure
Op-Ed, International Relations and Security Network
By Simon Saradzhyan, Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Both the Kremlin and local authorities will do well to diversify their response to indigenous terrorism in the North Caucasus to address the root causes and contributing factors behind this menace. And in Ingushetia's case, they should also cease paying lip service to the need to fight corruption and start cleansing the local law enforcement of inefficient, corrupt and ideologically converted officers.
July 15, 2009
"Stirring Things Up in the Crimea"
Op-Ed, International Relations and Security Network
By Simon Saradzhyan, Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Putin strives to further increase Russia's soft power in the Crimea, but Moscow should avoid discouraging disloyalty among Ukrainians as any violent outburst of instability would be detrimental to all sides, Simon Saradzhyan argues in ISN Security Watch.
Summer 2009
"Dynamics of Maritime Terrorists Threats to Russia and the Government's Reponse"
Journal Article, Connections Quarterly, volume III
By Simon Saradzhyan, Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Simon Saradzhyan identifies actors that have the capacity and motivation to commit acts of maritime terrorism against Russia. Saradzhyan also reviews Russia’s maritime and freshwater infrastructure and activities before outlining selected scenarios of terrorist acts that could take advantage of vulnerabilities in this infrastructure and facilities.
