FreedomTeam Interview: Sasha Bepoldin In Focus
Meet Mr Sasha Bepoldin, who worked in the Project Office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in South Caucasus as an intern for three months. Find out why a French man is interested in the Caucasus.
1. Please share a few words about yourself?
I studied in Sciences Po Paris and the University of Helsinki and graduated in summer 2015. I obtained a Master in International Security and specialized in the post-Soviet region with a focus on regional and international security issues in the South Caucasus. During the last few years I have had the opportunity to work for several NGOs and foundations in Brussels, Tbilisi and Paris. I speak French, German and English and am learning Russian and Georgian.
2. How long and in what position have you worked for FNF?
I worked for the FNF Project Office South Caucasus as an intern for 3 months, from October to December 2015.
3. What are the most valuable insight that you acquired during your FNF career?
For me it was very interesting to see that my FNF Project Office is able to create regional networks in a conflict-ridden part of the world through values and political dialogue.
4. How would you define your overall contribution to Freedom during your FNF career?
I hope that through my expertise in this region’s politics and my enthusiasm for the tasks which were entrusted to me I was able to contribute to the work of the FNF in the South Caucasus. One of the most striking experiences was a working trip to Yerevan, Armenia, during a referendum on constitutional change where we could observe electoral practices in action.
5. Why is the promotion of Freedom important to you?
I believe that Freedom has the virtue to enable individuals to achieve their goals without constraints and to feel self-realized. The freedom to travel and therefore to discover other cultures also allow us to challenge our views about many aspects of our lives which I believe leads us to make better decisions, both for us and for those around us.
6. What is your Freedom message?
As Voltaire said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”. I believe that only Freedom (of speech) leads to real dialogue and therefore to lasting solutions in politics but also in our everyday life.
You can meet the other members of the Freedom Team in East and Southeast Europe, featured in this interview series, here: