Project: Diplomats in Crisis: Rulebook Adherence or Ad-Hoc Decision-Making? A Case Study of U.S. Diplomats in Russia

Adviser: Ambassador (ret.) John A. Heffern, Distinguished Non-Resident Fellow, ISD; Acting Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs (2014-2017)

Mikael Pir-Budagyan is a graduate student in the Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies program, pursuing the Certificate in Diplomatic Studies. His latest research focuses on Russian foreign and domestic policies, regional development, and conflict resolution. He is currently a graduate student associate at Russia Matters, a project run by Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. He previously worked as a research assistant at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy.