Democracy vs. the Kremlin (w/ Shelby Magid)

Democracy vs. the Kremlin (w/ Shelby Magid)

From In the National Interest by Center for the National Interest

October 10, 2025 · 17 min · Season 2 · Episode 12

About this episode

The episode discusses Moldova's elections and the challenges faced by democracies in Eastern Europe against Kremlin influence.

Moldova’s recent elections dealt another blow to Moscow’s influence, but can its fragile democracy withstand the Kremlin’s next moves? Across Eastern Europe, Ukraine fights for survival, Georgia teeters between Brussels and Moscow, and Russian interference looms over them all. What tools does Vladimir Putin still have to destabilize the region—and how can Europe and the United States help defend its newest democracies without overreaching? In this episode, Jacob Heilbrunn speaks with Shelby Magid, Deputy Director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center. Magid previously served at the German Marshall Fund of the United States and at the International Federation for Human Rights’ office in The Hague, where she worked with the International Criminal Court and conducted research on human rights violations. Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay

People in this episode

Host: Jacob Heilbrunn

Guest: Shelby Magid

Topics covered

  • democracy
  • Kremlin influence
  • Eastern Europe
  • Russian interference
  • U.S. foreign policy
  • human rights

Keywords

  • Moldova
  • Kremlin
  • Eastern Europe
  • Ukraine
  • Georgia
  • democracy
  • Russian interference
  • U.S. support
  • human rights

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Atlantic Council, German Marshall Fund of the United States, International Federation for Human Rights

Places: Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Brussels, Moscow, The Hague

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