Giulia Bernardi is the Western Europe Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since November 2019. She was originally hired as the Italy researcher. She currently coordinates the management of the Western Europe desk and the publishing of its data on a weekly basis. Giulia holds a double MA in Russian, Central and East European Studies from the University of Glasgow and a Master's in International Relations from KIMEP University, Almaty. Before joining ACLED, she had experience in the field of journalism and research in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Giulia is fluent in Italian, English and Russian.
This past month, people in Greenland and Denmark took to the streets to protest threats of US annexation, and Russia has plunged Ukraine into its worst energy crisis since the start of the war.
In October, unidentified drones wreaked havoc across Europe, Ukraine retaliated for strikes against its energy infrastructure, and the government cracked down on demonstrators and opposition in Georgia.
European Pro-Palestine demonstrations reached their highest level since May 2024, Russian drones veering off course raised suspicion of a provocation, and hundreds of thousands rallied in France over austerity measures.
In August, strikes on energy infrastructure in Ukraine and Russia intensified, and the Novi Sad demonstrations escalated in Serbia as they entered their 10th month.
In June, coordinated demonstrations challenged mass tourism in Europe, the government crackdown in Georgia intensified, and clashes and arrests took place amid demands for snap elections in Serbia.
Intimidation and violence against local officials are becoming a disturbing feature of European public life.
In May, pro-Palestine protests swept across Europe, waves of Ukrainian drones struck deep into Russia, and a former Yanukovych associate was gunned down near Madrid.
Germany, Greece, Russia, and Ukraine face demonstrations and attacks amid political tensions and military actions.
