EastWest Review
Established New York 2018
Meet the team
Founder / Director
ALISSA ORDABAI
Alissa Ordabai studied history of the Russian avant-garde at the Courtauld Institute of Art before graduating with a law degree from the University of London. She began her career at USAID assisting Mission Director for Central Asia Craig G. Buck during his negotiations with local governments to facilitate post-soviet transition and traveled to war zones to expedite humanitarian relief. She later coordinated programs at ARD / Checchi Law Reform Project in Central Asia sponsored by the U.S. government and the United Nations, and supported WHO and Centers for Disease Control to drive healthcare reform in the region. In the 2000s she administered operations of the London office of a high-tech multinational and after moving to New York in 2015 set up Soviet History Lessons research center for study of post-WWII social movements in Eastern Europe. Providing legal work and research for Vladimir Bukovsky's 2019 book Judgement in Moscow became one of the most memorable highlights of her career. Contact: alissa@soviethistorylessons.com.
Consultant / French Language Translator
DR.ZAHRA TAVASSOLI ZEA
Dr. Zahra Tavassoli Zea is an art historian and the author of Balzac Reframed: The Classical and Modern Faces of Éric Rohmer and Jacques Rivette (Palgrave, 2019). She obtained her Ph.D. in History and Philosophy of Art from the University of Kent, with specialisation in film adaptations of 19th-century literary sources. In parallel with her experience as a researcher and university teacher, Zahra trained as a professional translator in 2017 and collaborated with a wide range of sectors, clients and companies: scholars, publishing houses, educational organisations, NGOs, private businesses and government agencies. Currently, she works as Editor-in-Chief of Tide magazine, an independent French journal focusing on contemporary art and fashion. She is also a regular guest on the fortnightly podcast "Spot on, Doc", which offers free lectures and conversations on film, media and art history to the general public. To commission Zahra, contact zahratavassolizea@gmail.com.
Researcher / German Language Translator
JACK BRADY
Jack Brady is a first-class graduate of Cambridge University, where he specialised in modern German thought. During his studies, Jack received four prizes for academic excellence, and was named Corpus Christi Scholar and Boorman Scholar. He has been translating from German into English for five years and enjoys working with a broad range of texts. Currently, Jack is researching 'revolution' in nineteenth-century German literature. His favourite book is Ungeduld des Herzens by Stefan Zweig. To commission Jack, contact jbrady.translates@gmail.com.
ARTHUR BEARD
Researcher / French Language Translator
Arthur is currently studying for a Masters in Conference Interpreting (English, French and Russian) at the University of Geneva. Previously, he completed a BA in Modern and Medieval Languages (Russian and German) at the University of Cambridge. Arthur has conducted research on various aspects of Russian-language culture, with a particular interest for Soviet cinema and contemporary Russian rap. He is writing his Master’s thesis on the memoirs of Soviet State interpreters who interpreted for Khrushchev, Brezhnev and Gorbachev. To commission Arthur, contact beard.arthur@gmail.com.
TEODOR NICULA-GOLOVEI
Researcher / Romanian Language Translator
Teodor Nicula-Golovei is a graduate of the University of Cambridge, where he studied Modern and Medieval Languages (German and Spanish), with a focus on contemporary German history. During his time at Cambridge, Teodor received academic praise from his supervisors and was named Tiarks Junior Scholar. He has been translating between Romanian, English, German, and Spanish for 5 years, in both academic and professional settings. He is currently pursuing the Master of Advanced International Studies at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. To commission Teodor, contact teodorng@gmail.com.
PIOTR SADOWSKI
Polish Language Translator
Piotr Sadowski is a London-based Polish language translator and a holder of a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics. To commission Piotr, visit http://www.pandmtranslators.eu.
MARIA LAZEBRA
Illustrator
Maria Lazebra is a Ukrainian visual artist who creates unique hand-drawn illustrations and carefully crafted body art designs. For custom artwork, contact Maria through her Instagram (@lazebraart) or email: lazebraart@gmail.com.
ASKER MURSALIEV
Freelance Illustrator
Asker Mursaliev is an art college graduate (department of easel painting) based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. A 2D and 3D computer graphics professional, in his spare time he enjoys silkscreen printing and creates his own comics. Instagram: @hitruk87. To commission Asker, contact hitruk87@gmail.com.
CARINA REYTBLAT
Designer / Illustrator
Carina Reytblat graduated from art school specialising in theatre set design. She has been working as a 3D and concept artist in the gaming industry, and was simultaneously illustrating books. Eventually her passion for illustration won out and she decided to dedicate her whole time to illustrating. She has illustrated a wide range of books, collaborating with authors in a variety of genres.
CHRISTINE LALOT
Designer / Illustrator
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ABOUT US
ART WE COMMISSION
Soviet History Lessons counters Russian state propaganda and offers cutting-edge expertise on Eastern Europe and Russia by leading world scholars, as well as an extensive collection of materials on the region's post-WWII resistance, social movements, and culture.
Our most recent interviewees include historians Françoise Thom, Stéphane Courtois and Thierry Wolton who discuss the causes and possible outcomes the war in Ukraine.
Other recently published materials which give the issue historical depth are John Lenczowski's seminal essay on the Cold War strategy of the Reagan administration and Vladimir Bukovsky's analysis of the concept of isolationism in the U.S. foreign policy.
Сайт "Уроки советской истории" противостоит пропаганде Российской Федерации, публикуя мнения ведущих мировых историков и политологов о России и Восточной Европе, а также представляет читателям обширную коллекцию материалов о сопротивлении и социальных движениях в Восточном блоке после Второй мировой войны.
Среди недавно прозвучавших на наших страницах экспертов — Франсуаза Том, Стефан Куртуа и Тьерри Уолтон с анализом причин и возможных последствий войны в Украине.
Также среди недавно опубликованного — материалы, рассматривающие происходящие события в исторической перспективе: эссе Джона Ленчовски о стратегии администрации Рейгана в период холодной войны и анализ Владимира Буковского концепции изоляционизма во внешней политике США.
Our library also makes available over 2,000 books, newspaper articles and magazines to journalists and researchers. Please contact Alissa Ordabai for more details.
В разделе "Library" — список книг, газет и журналов, которыми располагает наш архив, и к которому мы предоставляем доступ журналистам и научным исследователям.
Среди них более двух тысяч статей и более пятисот книг, написанных участниками общественных движений в Восточной Европе, а также труды западных историков, политиков, политологов и дипломатов о холодной войне и правах человека, в том числе и недавно рассекреченные документы Министерства иностранных дел Великобритании.
Эшберн, штат Вирджиния, США, 6 августа 2020. Художник Джонатан Линтон представил сегодня портрет диссидента и правозащитника Владимира Буковского на онлайн-церемонии в своей студии в Вирджинии. Архив "Уроки советской истории" выступил в качестве заказчика портрета, отдавая дань благодарности самопожертвованию и бесстрашной решимости Буковского, результатом которых стало освобождение многих советских политзаключённых.
Ashburn, VA, August 6, 2020. Artist Jonathan Linton unveiled today a portrait of the human rights activist Vladimir Bukovsky in an online ceremony at his Virginia studio. Commissioned by the Soviet History Lessons archive, this portrait is a tribute of gratitude for Mr. Bukovsky's sacrifices and fearless resolve which enabled release of many Soviet political prisoners.
Владимир Буковский скончался 27 октября 2019 года в Кембридже, Великобритания и был основателем движения за права человека в СССР. Буковский провел 12 лет в советских тюрьмах и лагерях прежде чем был депортирован на Запад в результате обмена на главу коммунистической партии Чили в 1976 году. Лауреат Медали свободы Трумэна-Рейгана, лектор и автор ряда книг-бестселлеров, впоследствии Буковский стал неофициальным советником президента Рейгана и премьер-министра Тэтчер. С 1983 по 1991 год он возглавлял альянс Resistance International, объединявший десятки организации по сопротивлению коммунизму во всём мире.
Работы Джонатана Линтона завоевали множество наград и находятся в музеях и частных коллекциях США и Европы.
January 2, 2021. Three artists from three countries — France, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine — took part in illustrating Vladimir Bukovsky's short story "The Bell Ringer" — an allegorical portrayal of the role of dissenters in a totalitarian society. Artists Christine Lalot, Asker Mursaliev, and Maria Lazebna were commissioned by the Soviet History Lessons archive.
2 января 2021. Три художника-иллюстратора из трёх стран — Франции, Кыргызстана и Украины — приняли участие в проекте по созданию иллюстраций к рассказу Владимира Буковского "Звонарь". Художники Кристин Лалот, Аскер Мурсалиев и Мария Лазебна создали свои иллюстрации по заказу архива "Уроки советской истории".