On February 28^, 2025 the first online seminar took place from the Series “New Eastern European Diasporas: Exploring Migration, Exile, and Integration”. The initiative was founded by a group of researchers from the VMU Lithuanian Emigration Institute in response to a need from European scientific community interested in comparing experiences of Eastern European diasporas. This workshop marks an important step toward establishing an informal network of scholars and institutions working on Post-Soviet diasporas and recent East European migration studies.

The first seminar in the New Eastern European Diasporas series was successfully launched on February 28, 2025, bringing together scholars and researchers examining recent migration flows from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. This seminar series aims to foster academic exchange and collaboration on the evolving experiences of Eastern European diasporas across Europe.

The opening session introduced the initiative, allowing participants to share their research experiences and discuss potential areas for collaboration. The EXILEST research project was presented by Ronan Hervouet from the University of Bordeaux and the Emile Durkheim Center. Funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR), this study explores the trajectories, politicization, and social dynamics of Belarusian, Russian, and Ukrainian exiles following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The project builds on previous research, including the BIELEXIL study (2022–2023), which examined Belarusian exiles in Central and Eastern Europe and their forms of politicization after the war in Ukraine. (for detailed information about the project see EXILEST | Centre Émile Durkheim)

Following the presentation, participants engaged in a lively discussion, expressing strong interest in joint research. Topics included shared methodological approaches, emerging migration trends, and the role of host countries in integrating displaced populations.

The next session in the series will take place on March 21, 2025, focusing on the Polish research project Between Ukraine and Poland, led by Agata Górna and Pawel Kaczmarczyk.

For more information about the seminar series and upcoming events, please contact: lii@vdu.lt

Initiative co-founders – Emilija Pundziūtė-Gallois, Dainius Genys, Daiva Kuzmickaitė, Tomasz Blaszczak, and Violetta Parutis.