RIAC Urban Breakfast on the Role of Myths in Shaping Perceptions of the Middle East

On February 18, 2026, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) held the Urban Breakfast titled “The Middle East in the Mirror of Myths” at the Dostoevsky Library. Experts discussed persistent narratives about the region and demonstrated how simplified explanations distort understanding of developments in the Middle East.

On February 18, 2026, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) held the Urban Breakfast titled “The Middle East in the Mirror of Myths” at the Dostoevsky Library. Experts discussed persistent narratives about the region and demonstrated how simplified explanations distort understanding of developments in the Middle East.

Speakers at the Urban Breakfast included: Andrey Evseenko, Deputy Director for Science of the Institute for U.S. and Canada Studies; Luiza Khlebnikova, Associate Professor at the Department of Jewish Studies, Institute of Asian and African Studies, Lomonosov Moscow State University;

Irina Lebedeva, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Oriental and African Studies, Russian State University for the Humanities;

Maksim Alontsev, Academic Supervisor of the program “Classical and Modern Orient: Languages, Cultures, Religions”, Institute for Oriental and Classical Studies, HSE University.

The discussion was moderated by RIAC Program Manager Ivan Bocharov.