The Sunday Show: Armenia Celebrates, Crackdown on Telegram, Francis Fukuyama

✅ What’s Next For Armenia?

After nearly two weeks of widespread anti-government protests, Armenia celebrated the resignation of President turned Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan. But amid the festivities, fresh rounds of civil demonstrations were emerging across the country as talks between the incumbent Republican party and the opposition broke down. Opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan, who led the protests against Sargsyan, called on Armenians to continue the protests until the leadership switched hands. We speak with the director of the Yerevan-based Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation Stepan Grigoryan about what’s next for the country.

Dr. Stepan Grigoryan

Chairman of the Board, Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation

✅ Russia’s Failed Attempts To Crack Down Telegram

Reports about government crackdown on independent media and websites come thick and fast from Russia. So, perhaps, it seemed like nothing but old news when people started hearing about the attempts to block Telegram, one of the few encrypted messaging apps in Russia. Earlier, its creator Pavel Durov refused to provide the government with access to users’ conversatмions. In its attempts to ban Telegram, Russia has managed to block pretty much everything but Telegram so far. We speak with Andrei Soldatov, a Russian investigative reporter and security services expert, about how a messaging app’s fight against Russia’s communications regulator has proven to be so effective so far.

Andrei Soldatov

Russian investigative reporter, security services expert

✅Francis Fukuyama on Ukraine: A Philosopher's Guide

In the world of international politics and reforms, Francis Fukuyama is a force to be reckoned with. Currently a senior fellow at Stanford’s Freeman Spogli Institute, he is best known for his belief that the triumph of liberal democracy at the end of the Cold War marked the last ideological stage in the progression of human history. Now, we are honored to have him in our studio to share his views on Ukraine’s past, present and future in the fields of politics and reforms.

Francis Fukuyama

Senior Fellow at Stanford's Freeman Spogli Institute

✅ Chernobyl Disaster: 32 Years On

Is there life after Chernobyl? Some 10 years ago, many would be tempted to say no. But today it seems like the nuclear disaster-torn region has thriving wildlife and a returning population. We traveled to the exclusion zone to see what makes the region attractive to these settlers. We also speak with Oleh Bondarenko, a member of National Commission for Radiation Protection of Ukraine, about how safe it is to live in the area today and what the government is doing to make it habitable.

Oleh Bondarenko

Member of National Commission for Radiation Protection of Ukraine