Dr Tena Prelec Presents GEO-POWER-EU Research at International Academic and Policy Events in Astana

In June 2026, GEO-POWER-EU Researcher Asst. Prof. Tena Prelec (UniRi) visited Astana, Kazakhstan, for a series of academic and policy engagements focused on transnational finance, foreign influence, and international cooperation in addressing illicit financial flows.

The visit included a workshop at Maqsut Narikbayev University on identifying enabler networks, which brought together researchers and practitioners to explore new approaches to understanding transnational corruption and the role of professional intermediaries in facilitating illicit financial activity. Dr. Prelec also engaged with representatives of Kazakh authorities and the British Embassy Astana in discussions on strengthening international cooperation, promoting financial integrity, and bridging research and policy perspectives on illicit finance.

Finally, at the annual conference of the Central Eurasian Studies Society, hosted by Nazarbayev University, Dr. Prelec presented her research on transnational enabling networks and corrosive capital as mechanisms of foreign influence. Across her engagements in Astana, she highlighted GEO-POWER-EU findings on how illicit financial networks intersect with governance challenges and geopolitical competition, with a particular focus on Central Asia.