In this episode of the Sanctions Space podcast, Justine Walker is joined by Jason Blazakis, professor of Practice Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies; director of Center on Terrorism, Extremism and Counterterrorism at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Speaking on the margins of the ACAMS Vegas conference, they discuss the implications of recent Wagner Group developments—including its new leadership, strength, and relationship with the Russian government—and how we can counter the group’s “Swiss Army knife” malicious activities, such as electoral interference, misinformation and taking advantage of failing states.
Blazakis is a professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) where he focuses on threat financing, sanctions, violent extremism, and special operations related research. He is also the director of MIIS’s Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism where he directs research on domestic terrorism, terrorism finance, recruitment, propaganda and the use of special operations to counter transnational threats.
