The London-based IISS runs a series of seminars on Eurasian security that cover the region from different angles, for e.g. human rights: http://www.iiss.org/programmes/russi...egy-seminars-/

Alas the seminars do not have podcasts, unlike the main meetings, but may give an indicator of who is an expert on the region and then search again.

(I am an IISS member, but do not attend these meetings. Can't think why but it is usually South Asia that I attend).

davidbfpo