Mr. Alexey Khlebnikov most recently worked as a consultant for the Executive Office of the Russian President in Nizhni Novgorod. He was previously the assistant to the Foreign Languages Chair in the International Relations department at Nizhni Novgorod State University. He earned his master and bachelor degrees in International Relations from the Lobachevsky State University of Nizni Novgorod in Russia. His area of interest and research is Middle Eastern politics and great power policies towards this region. During his studies, Mr. Khlebnikov interned in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Consulate Department, and made several research stays and internships in the Middle East (Syria, Israel, Egypt). He is doing his PhD, which is focused on Egyptian and Syrian foreign policy.