The International Timerbaev Nuclear Debates provide a platform for discussing key issues related to nuclear non-proliferation, arms control, strategic stability, and global security in general, and serve as an effective tool for training a new generation of international specialists.
The first International Timerbaev Debates were held in 2020 at the 20th anniversary of the PIR Center’s International School on Global Security. The topic of the debates was “Will the world be safer without nuclear weapons?”.The debates was attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Viktor Sergeevich Slipchenko, who reminded everyone that back in 1990, when there were no Soviet non-governmental organizations present at international scientific conferences, Roland Mikhailovich advocated the creation of a domestic NGO dedicated to nuclear non-proliferation. The participants expressed contrasting opinions, engaged in debates and discussions, but the common thread that united them was the idea of a secure world.
In 2026, the focus of the discussion was the use of artificial intelligence for military purposes. The participants attempted to answer the question of whether military artificial intelligence is a strategic resource for Russia in the context of global confrontation or a source of new threats to national security.
The first introductory lectures and a preparatory meeting of the participants were held online on June 23.
The debates itself took place on July 7 in Zvenigorod, at the Asia Mix restaurant, from 19:00 to 21:30. Among the experts were: Vadim Kozyulin, Yulia Teshkovskaya, and Alexey Zakharov.
Participants of the 2026 PIR Center School shared their impressions of the X International Timerbaev Debates:
Timerbaev debates were a very useful experience that allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of modern challenges in the field of international security and learn how to defend one’s position in a reasoned manner
Ahmat Mahamat Tahir Bahit
journalist with the Sputnik Africa news agency in the Republic of Chad
The PIR Center XXIV International School on Global Security provided a wonderful opportunity to participate in the Timerbaev debates and acquire first-hand experience working in a team with an expert from the Republic of Korea.
Olga Zhuravskaya
Associate Professor of the Department of International Relations at the Faculty of International Relations of the Belarusian State University, Republic of Belarus
The preparations for the X Timerbaev Debates immediately immersed the participants in the School agenda and facilitated a new look at the autonomy of military artificial intelligence.
Egor Sogrin
laboratory assistant and student at the Faculty of World Politics at Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russian Federation
