DEFENDING DEMOCRACY: HORIZONS OF FREEDOM

High-Level Conference

Skopje, Friday, December 12, 2025

Democracy Navigator 2025 – Human Rights Week

Participants: Europe, USA, Western Balkans, North Macedonia

Access: Invitation only (requests & registration: info@civil.mk)

Venue: Civic Resource Centre (location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WtzUPGK4mXFky4rw6)

PROGRAMME

10:00 – 10:30 | WELCOMING ADDRESSES

H.E. Petra Drexler
Ambassador of Germany to North Macedonia

• Ambassador Drexler represents the Federal Republic of Germany in North Macedonia and is a strong advocate of democratic governance, regional stability, and European integration. Under her leadership, the German Embassy has actively supported civil society, human rights initiatives, and efforts to strengthen democratic resilience in the country.

H.E. Larysa Dir
Ambassador of Ukraine to North Macedonia

• Ambassador Dir is Ukraine’s chief diplomatic representative in North Macedonia, advancing Ukraine’s interests and strengthening the partnership between Kyiv and Skopje. Her work focuses on fostering international solidarity with Ukraine, promoting democratic values, and raising awareness about the impact of Russia’s aggression. She plays an essential role in deepening bilateral cooperation and supporting joint efforts in defence of freedom and European security.

Dr. Wolfgang Ressmann
President of Media Dialogue (Germany); Co-founder of the Defending Democracy Global Initiative (DDGI)

• Dr. Ressmann is a media expert and civil society leader with decades of experience in cross-border democratic cooperation. As President of Media Dialogue and co-founder of DDGI, he leads initiatives on media freedom, civic participation, and countering disinformation, with a strong focus on Ukraine and Europe’s democratic landscape.

Roger Casale
Director, Westminster Alliance for Ukraine (United Kingdom); Co-founder of the Defending Democracy Global Initiative (DDGI); Former Member of the UK Parliament

• Roger Casale is a British human rights advocate, former British MP, and founder of New Europeans International. As Director of the Westminster Alliance for Ukraine and co-founder of DDGI, he works to advance European unity, democratic participation, and transnational support for Ukraine’s freedom, security, and recovery.

Jabir Deralla
President, CIVIL – Centre for Freedom (North Macedonia); Co-founder of the Defending Democracy Global Initiative

• Jabir Deralla is an awarded journalist, hybrid warfare analyst, human rights defender, and one of the leading civil society figures in North Macedonia. He is a prominent regional voice on democracy, human rights, and countering hybrid threats across the Western Balkans and Europe. As President of CIVIL – Center for Freedom and co-founder of the DDGI, he drives international efforts to expose disinformation and hybrid threats. Deralla is among the most vocal supporters of Ukraine in the region and beyond, advocating for truth and solidarity in the face of Russia’s aggression.

 

10:30 – 11:30 | Panel I: War in Ukraine, Hybrid War in Europe and the Global Democratic Struggle

This panel examines Russia’s war against Ukraine as the central front of a broader global confrontation over democracy, human rights, and the international rules-based order. Speakers analyze how hybrid warfare – combining military aggression, disinformation, cyber-attacks, and proxy influence – reshapes security in Europe and beyond. The discussion highlights Ukraine’s resilience, the geopolitical stakes for Europe and the Western Balkans, and the global democratic implications of the war’s outcome.

PANELISTS

Roger Casale
Director, Westminster Alliance for Ukraine (United Kingdom)

Dr. Francesco Gaudiosi
Vice President and Executive Director, Centro Studi Internazionali (Italy)

• Dr. Gaudiosi is an international security scholar and senior analyst specializing in European geopolitics, transatlantic relations, and hybrid threats. As Vice President and Executive Director of the Centro Studi Internazionali (CSI) and a leading contributor to the Westminster Alliance for Ukraine, he advances research and strategic dialogue on the implications of Russia’s aggression for regional and global security.

Dr. Yevhen Tsimbalenko
Institute of Journalism “Taras Shevchenko”, National University of Kyiv (Ukraine)

• Dr. Tsimbalenko is a Ukrainian media and communication scholar focusing on wartime journalism, information security, and the impact of Russian disinformation on democratic societies. He has worked extensively on analyzing propaganda narratives during Russia’s full-scale invasion and on strengthening Ukraine’s information resilience through research, education, and cooperation with international partners.

Prof. Dr. Oliver Andonov
Department of Security and Crisis Management, Military Academy “General Mihailo Apostolski” (North Macedonia)

• Prof. Dr. Andonov is a leading expert in defense studies, crisis management, and security policy. A veteran analyst of regional geopolitics, he examines hybrid threats, military doctrine, and the evolving security environment in the Western Balkans. His academic and public engagement includes extensive work on Ukraine, democratic security, and the implications of Russian influence operations in the region.

Prof. Dr. Edward P. Joseph
Conflict Management Expert, Johns Hopkins University (USA)

• Prof. Dr. Joseph is an internationally recognized conflict resolution expert with decades of field experience across the Balkans, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. At Johns Hopkins University, he teaches conflict management and international security. He is a frequent commentator on Ukraine, transatlantic security, and Russian aggression, and has served in senior roles with NATO, the UN, and international missions.

Moderator:

Heather Roberson
Human Rights Expert; University of Virginia (USA)

• Heather Roberson is a human rights researcher, writer, and educator whose work focuses on democratic participation, civic resilience, and global human rights advocacy. She has collaborated internationally on projects addressing authoritarianism, misinformation, and civic engagement. Her research and publications explore emerging threats to democracy and the role of civil society in defending human rights.

 

11:30 – 12:30 | Panel II: AI, Disinformation & the Post-Truth / Post-Shame World

This panel explores how AI reshapes both the military and information dimensions of modern conflict — from autonomous targeting systems, drone swarms, and battlefield decision-support tools to synthetic media, algorithmic manipulation, and expanding disinformation ecosystems that destabilize shared reality. It examines how today’s media and communications ecosystems amplify hybrid warfare and accelerate the erosion of political communication in the post-truth / post-shame environment. The discussion addresses the risks of weaponized AI in both kinetic and cognitive domains and opens space for considering democratic safeguards, ethical and legal standards, and the global norms needed to protect open societies in an era of contested truth and accelerating technological power.

PANELISTS

Lina Kushch
First Secretary, National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (Ukraine)

• Lina Kushch is a leading Ukrainian media expert and senior representative of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU). Throughout Russia’s full-scale war, she has worked extensively on issues of media safety, wartime reporting, and countering disinformation targeting Ukrainian society and global audiences. She is actively engaged in international cooperation efforts aimed at strengthening press freedom, supporting journalists under threat, and defending truth in wartime information environments.

Eglė Celiešienė
CEO, Researcher & Social Innovation Developer, Lithuanian College of Democracy (Lithuania)

• Eglė Celiešienė is a democracy practitioner, educator, and innovation expert focusing on civic empowerment, democratic resilience, and the social impact of emerging technologies. As CEO and researcher at the Lithuanian College of Democracy, she develops educational programmes, community-based initiatives, and research projects addressing disinformation, digital literacy, and democratic culture. Her work bridges academia, civil society, and policy networks across the Baltic region.

Marjan Zabrčanec
Communications Specialist; Former Government Communications Director (North Macedonia)

• Marjan Zabrčanec is a strategic communications expert with long-standing experience in public communication, crisis management, and counter-disinformation initiatives. He previously served as Government Communications Director, where he coordinated national campaigns, digital outreach, and public information systems. He is active in media and democracy initiatives across the Western Balkans, focusing on combating misinformation, strengthening civic engagement, and promoting transparent public communication.

Col. Goran Vasilevski
Army Colonel (ret.); Former Head of the Military Service for Security and Intelligence, Ministry of Defence (North Macedonia)

• Colonel (ret.) Vasilevski is a security and intelligence expert with decades of experience in national defence, strategic intelligence, and counterintelligence operations. As former head of the Military Service for Security and Intelligence at the Ministry of Defence, he oversaw key processes related to threat assessment, intelligence coordination, and defence preparedness. His expertise spans hybrid warfare, military security, and the intersection of technology and defence.

Moderator: Jabir Deralla

 

12:30 – 13:30 | Panel III: European & Global Perspectives of Democratic Resilience

This panel examines how democracies across Europe and the wider world confront rising hybrid threats, democratic backsliding, and geopolitical pressures. Panelists will discuss shared vulnerabilities, lessons learned, and the strategic choices needed to protect institutions, uphold rights, and strengthen public trust. The conversation aims to outline practical pathways for long-term democratic resilience and collective security.

PANELISTS

Amb. Gudrun Steinacker
Vice-President, Southeast Europe Association (Germany); Former Ambassador of Germany

• Ambassador Steinacker is an experienced German diplomat and senior analyst on Southeast European affairs. She has served in key diplomatic postings, including as Ambassador of Germany to Montenegro and North Macedonia, and remains deeply engaged in regional cooperation, democratic reform, and European integration. As Vice-President of the Southeast Europe Association, she contributes to research and policy dialogue on governance, security, and democratic resilience.

Bojan Maričić
Former Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs and Former Minister of Justice, North Macedonia

• Bojan Maričić is a legal and governance expert with extensive experience in European integration, institutional reform, and justice-sector modernization. As Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs and previously as Minister of Justice, he led key processes related to EU alignment, rule-of-law reforms, and public administration modernization. His work continues to focus on strengthening democratic institutions and advancing North Macedonia’s European trajectory.

Dr. Wolfgang Ressmann
President, Media Dialogue (Germany)

Emanuele Errichiello
Deputy Director, Centro Studi Internazionali (Italy)

• Emanuele Errichiello is a researcher and analyst specializing in European geopolitics, security policy, and transatlantic relations. As Deputy Director of the Centro Studi Internazionali (CSI), he contributes to strategic assessments on global crises, hybrid warfare, and democratic resilience. He works closely with European partners on strengthening regional cooperation and advancing a rules-based international order.

Admir Lisica
Director, Center for Geopolitical Research “Geopol” (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

• Admir Lisica is a political analyst and researcher focusing on geopolitical developments in Southeast Europe, international security, and hybrid threats. As Director of Geopol Sarajevo, he leads research on regional influence operations, security vulnerabilities, and the political dynamics shaping the Western Balkans. His work bridges academic research, policy expertise, and public communication on democratic resilience.

Toni Popovski
Political Scientist, Architect; Former Minister of Environment (North Macedonia)

• Toni Popovski is a political scientist, author, and former government minister with a diverse background in public policy, sustainable development, and democratic governance. As Minister of Environment and through multiple advisory roles, he has contributed to institutional reforms, environmental policy, and political system development. His work emphasizes long-term strategic governance, European integration, and strengthening democratic institutions.

Moderators: Heather Roberson & Jabir Deralla

 

13:30 – 14:00 | Closing Session: Reflections, Commitments & the Road Ahead

Afternoon: Informal Networking & Presentations

 

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CONTEXT

As truth is contested, human rights threatened, and democracies across the world pressured by war, authoritarianism, and hybrid operations, CIVIL – Centre for Freedom presents Defending Democracy: Horizons of Freedom – a nine-day strategic, civic, and multimedia programme marking Human Rights Week 2025. Supported by the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, and implemented in cooperation with partners in the Defending Democracy Global Initiative (DDGI) and the Westminster Alliance for Ukraine (WA4U) – including Media Dialogue, Youth4Media, the New European People’s Forum (Germany), the Jean Monnet Association (France), and Centro Studi Internazionali (Italy) – this year’s edition expands CIVIL’s long-standing mission to defend freedom, truth, and democratic values.

Horizons of Freedom unites expertise, creativity, activism, and public participation through a diverse programme: intensive media action and multi-level networking; youth engagement; analytic and scenario-driven roundtables; public art and civic expression; and a high-level international conference on December 12. It brings together domestic, regional, and global actors in a shared effort to expose hybrid warfare, strengthen democratic governance, and reaffirm human dignity.

Building on CIVIL’s previous landmark editions – Defending Democracy & Human Rights in the Face of War, Nationalism and Authoritarianism (December 2024), the global roadmap publication Defending Democracy and Human Rights (March 2025), and The Battlefield of Truth (October 2025) – Horizons of Freedom forms a multidimensional platform for confronting the realities of AI-driven manipulation, disinformation, authoritarian influence, and geopolitical aggression. It reimagines what resilience means in an era where warfare is both kinetic and cognitive, and where the fight for truth has become a frontline of its own.

The programme concludes with the public release of the Local Elections 2025 Report, providing analytical findings and strategic recommendations that bridge the week’s discussions with long-term democratic development, accountability, and civic empowerment.

 

As the world enters a period of profound uncertainty, Defending Democracy: Horizons of Freedom reaffirms CIVIL’s call to unite clarity, conscience, courage, and civic responsibility in defence of human dignity. This nine-day programme opens a space for engagement, reflection, and action dedicated to protecting the core values that sustain democratic societies.

CIVIL’s message is clear: Democracy survives only when it is actively defended.

Truth. Action. Democracy.