Lina Kolesnikova

Consultant in International Relations, Security, Risk and Crisis Management, Brussels.
Lina Kolesnikova is a specialist in consultancy, training and research, especially in the fields of: Risk, crisis and disaster management tactical, operational and strategic level); homeland security; CBRNE; OSINT.

She is an Associate of CS&A (International Risk and Crisis Management) and Rossnova Solutions; a Senior Analyst at G3 Geopolitical Intelligence Team; a Fellow at the Institute of Civil Protection and Management; Rep to EU institutions; an OSCE ODIHR Democratisation Expert; a Council Member of the Gerson Lehrman Group Security Experts Council; and an Expert for the European Forum for Urban Safety in France.

Lina holds an MSc Degree in Risk, Crisis & Disaster Management from Leicester University, UK; an MA in History (Novosibirsk State University, Russia, 1996); and post graduate qualifications in International and European Relations (Amsterdam School of International Relations, the Netherlands, 2000), Communication and Languages as Strategic Skills (CLASS) (ErasmusHogeschool, Belgium, 2005), Logistics Management (American Military University, 2011), and is working on further qualifications in Terrorism Studies (American Military University, completion anticpated 2018).

She has taken part in numerous UNITAR courses, including: Peacekeeping and International Conflict Resolution; Global Terrorism; International Humanitarian Law; Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution; and Negotiation of Financial Transactions. Furthermore, she has studied courses at the Inter-American Defence College (Introduction to Conflict Resolution and International Negotiations; Inter-agency Process in Crisis Management; and Introduction to Inter-American System), and holds certificates in decontamination processes from the US Homeland Security Institute.

Other areas in which Lina has studied include: Crisis Negotiations for First Responders; Corporate Emergency Crisis Management; The psychology of Criminal Justice; and the Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster.

Lina is a regular presenter and chair at high-level conferences around the world, including on mass hostage takings, terrorism response and negotiations, assisting the victims of large-scale terrorist attacks, community resilience, critical infrastructure, leadership challenges, soft targets, European emergency response, international co-operation and crisis management.

Lina is a CRJ blog Editor, focussing on security issues.

Embassies and security

Embassies, consulates, diplomatic missions and the people who work in them are a desirable target for terrorists, militants or angry mobs, writes Lina Kolesnikova - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 15, Issue 4)

Protests, riots and civil disorder – causes, symptoms and solutions

The long-term effects of Covid-19, growing wealth inequality, deteriorating labour conditions in developed countries and increasing alienation within political systems all provide fertile ground for demonstrations and civil unrest, warns Lina Kolesnikova. How can communities, governments, law enforcement and businesses work together for safety and sustainability? - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 15, Issue 3)

Energy resilience: Blackouts and worse

Although blackouts are considered low probability events, this year has seen a number of high profile, widespread electricity cuts in various parts of the world, writes Lina Kolesnikova, who says these incidents highlight worrying vulnerabilities - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 14, Issue 4)

Protecting places of worship

By their very nature, religious sites are soft and attractive targets for those who wish to cause harm and spread fear. Lina Kolesnikova explores the challenge of protecting them - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 14, Issue 3)

Call for consistency in kidnap response

Lina Kolesnikova explores the crimes of kidnapping and ransom - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 14, Issue 2)

Misinformation and fake news

The fallout from one of Russia’s deadliest fires in modern history was intensifi ed by mistrust and lack of effective communication, says Lina Kolesnikova - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 14, Issue 1)

False alarms and mass alerts

What happens when mass warning messages are made in error, or are deliberately faked? Lina Kolesnikova investigates - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 13, Issue 4)

Drug abuse: Tackling the source

The escalating opioid epidemic in many countries is considered by some to be a clear threat to societal resilience. Lina Kolesnikova looks at how this could be addressed - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 13, Issue 2)

Radicalisation in Central Asia

Radicalised operatives from the ex-Soviet Union regions of Central Asia and the Russian Caucasus are increasingly carrying out attacks elsewhere, says Lina Kolesnikova - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 12, Issue 4)

Analysis
Security
Terrorism

The growing use of children in terrorism

Lina Kolesnikova explores the disturbing growing trend of young people being radicalised, exploited, groomed and forced to take part in terrorist activities, or used as suicide bombers - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 12, Issue 2)

Terrorism

Double attacks in Brussels

Lina Kolesnikova examines the March terrorist attacks in Brussels, warns against the likelihood of similar events, and says that there are worrying signs that nuclear facilities may well be on the list of prized targets - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 11, Issue 4)

Terrorism

Mass sexual abuse: Portent of a wider crisis?

Lina Kolesnikova and Emily Hough say an increase in sexual attacks is in serious danger of damaging European cohesion and must be addressed, both for the sake of the victims and to avoid wider societal crisis implications - Written by Lina Kolesnikova and Emily Hough. (Volume 11, Issue 3)

Comment

Terrorist attacks in June

June 26, 2015 was termed ‘Black’ or ‘Bloody’ Friday in the media after more than 60 people were killed across three continents in separate attacks in Tunisia, France, Syria, Somalia and Kuwait, reports Lina Kolesnikova - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 11, Issue 1)

Security
Terrorism

Terrorism: SMEs must also protect themselves

Open societies have been described as a: “Staging ground to a potential Disneyland of soft targets,” so how can operators of smaller soft targets protect themselves against attack? Lina Kolesnikova investigates - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 10, Issue 3)

Continuity
Security
Terrorism

Disturbing shift towards gender-based violence

During the last five years we have witnessed an interesting phenomenon: local terrorist organisations making international headlines, writes Lina Kolesnikova, who reports on an increasing trend towards gender-based violence by some groups. - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 10, Issue 1)

Terrorism

Geopolitics in the Arctic

Climate change has evolved from an environmental concern to a matter of geopolitics in the 21st Century. Economic and international politics surrounding Arctic resources are heating up, says Lina Kolesnikova - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 9, Issue 4)

Climate
Environment

Attacks in Volgograd

The sad list of so-called ‘soft target’ terrorist attacks was extended with three deadly incidents on transportation networks in the city of Volgograd in Russia late last year, writes Lina Kolesnikova - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 9, Issue 3)

Security
Terrorism

Securing soft targets

Several resonant high-profile terrorist attacks on soft targets this year have raised serious concerns about the continuous evolution of this dangerous phenomenon, says Lina Kolesnikova - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 9, Issue 2)

Safety
Security

Chelyabinsk meteorite strike

Lina Kolesnikova and Emily Hough look at emergency response challenges after a meteorite hit earth near Chelyabinsk, as well as examining how Russia and the international community are addressing the threat of Near Earth Objects and space debris - Written by Lina Kolesnikova and Emily Hough. (Volume 9, Issue 1)

Analysis
Incident

Transport system collapse

Autumn and winter brought further unpleasant surprises to Russia after a summer of extremes, writes Lina Kolesnikova, who looks at how the severe winter weather affected transport systems, with a mammoth traffic jam that trapped drivers for days - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 8, Issue 3)

Weather

The rise of the lone attacker

Lina Kolesnikova examines the threat of lone wolves and suggests that authorities should not be afraid of addressing the security dilemmas that they pose - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 8, Issue 2)

Security
Terrorism

Torrents sweep through homes

Russia rarely makes the news when it comes to floods, but this year a particularly severe flood hit an area in southern Russia in July, writes Lina Kolesnikova - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 8, Issue 2)

Analysis
Incident

Sochi preparations

Lina Kolesnikova scrutinises preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and the work being done to address concerns about the environment, security and infrastructure - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 8, Issue 1)

Sinking on the river Volga

A tragic passenger cruise ship sinking on the Volga River has highlighted problems with ageing infrastructure and lack of safety enforcement on Russia’s river transportation system, according to Lina Kolesnikova - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 7, Issue 2)

Incident

Terror on Minsk underground

On April 11, 2011, at 17:55hrs local time (15:55hrs GMT) an explosion at Oktyabrskaya (October) station on the Minsk underground in Belarus took the lives of 15 people and wounded about 200 others, says Lina Kolesnikova - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 7, Issue 2)

Incident

Protecting foreign nationals

Lina Kolesnikova looks at the issues behind the large scale evacuation of foreign nationals in an emergency, saying that both the host government and the nations seeking to remove their citizens to safety must be aware of emergency response issues in advance - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 7, Issue 1)

Moscow air transport collapse

Last year was exceptional for weather extremes in Moscow, culminating in a severe ice storm that paralysed the capital’s airports, writes Lina Kolesnikova - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 6, Issue 4)

Weather

Moscow heatwave disaster

Extremely cold winter, followed by an unusually hot summer, challenged Russian authorities this year, says Lina Kolesnikova, who looks at the effects of the extreme heat on Moscow and its surrounding areas - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 6, Issue 3)

Incident

Second attack on train

In November 2009, the high-speed Nevsky Express train once again came under terrorist attack, this time with the loss of 26 lives, reports Lina Kolesnikova - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 6, Issue 2)

Incident

Russian response

In his first interview with a Western journal, Sergey Shoygu, Minister of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (EMERCOM of Russia), speaks to Lina Kolesnikova - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 6, Issue 1)

Interview

Terror attacks on trains

Passenger and cargo transportation security has been a hot topic for decades, and concern about security in this arena began well before the era of ‘new terrorism’, says Lina Kolesnikova - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 5, Issue 4)

Safety

Time for a European disaster relief force?

The swine fever outbreak has led to renewed discussions in the EU on the subject brought up in 2006 by Michel Barnier’s report, For a European Civil Protection Force: Europe Aid, says Lina Kolesnikova - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 5, Issue 3)

Europe

Commanding crisis in Russia

Co-ordinating information, warnings and emergency response across such a vast area as that spanned by the Russian Federation is not easy. Lina Kolesnikova describes Russia’s National Crisis Management Centre - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 5, Issue 2)

Profile

Improving a nation's preparedness

Ian Portelli and Lina Kolesnikova discuss the Large Scale Emergency Readiness Project in the US, which aims to improve the nation’s readiness for the outcome of a large-scale urban emergency - Written by Ian Portelli and Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 4, Issue 4)

More recognition for disaster psychology

Lina Kolesnikova calls for greater promotion and acceptance of disaster psychology as a discrete scientific branch, saying that it requires more training, funding and research - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 4, Issue 1)

Comment

Survivors and bereaved: preventing tragedy

The cultural mores and psychological needs of victims’ relatives are vital considerations - to ignore them can compound an already tragic situation, says Lina Kolnesikova, who explores the case of the air traffic controller murdered by a bereaved relative - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 3, Issue 3)

Long-term victim support

The victims of terrorist attacks are often left without adequate emotional or financial assistance. Lina Kolesnikova says that true justice lies not only in prosecuting the perpetrators, but also in helping victims and survivors - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 3, Issue 2)

Terrorism

Russian aviation under strain

Lina Kolesnikova reports how an ageing fleet, lack of finances, a shrinking pool of both experienced air traffic controllers and pilots, coupled with a surge in traffic over the holiday period, are straining Russia’s air transport system - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 3, Issue 1)

Metro bombings: Moscow's experience

Transportation systems are particularly vulnerable to terrorist attacks, writes Lina Kolesnikova, who recounts the history of attacks on Moscow’s underground, and outlines preventive measures that have been introduced - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 2, Issue 4)

Safety

Learning from mass hostage events

Lina Kolesnikova writes about lessons learned from mass hostage takings in Russia and how preparedness for, and response to, such sieges can be improved - Written by Lina Kolesnikova. (Volume 2, Issue 2)