John A. Lechner is an analyst concentrating on the politics of Russia, Turkey, and African nations, with a special focus on conflict in the Central African Republic. Previously, he worked as part of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a bipartisan federal government advisory body.
Soldiers with the United Nations stabilization mission in Central African Republic patrol in PK12 district, south of downtown Bangui, Central African Republic, on Jan. 13.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (center) with his wife, Emine Erdogan, followed by then-International Monetary Fund Director Christine Lagarde (left) in Paris on Nov. 11, 2018, prior to commemorations marking the 100th anniversary of the armistice ending World War I.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) vies for the ball with Berat Albayrak—now his finance minister and son-in-law—during an exhibition match in Istanbul on July, 26, 2014.
Bishop Sahak Masalyan (center), the chairman of the Religious Council of the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul, addresses the congregation at Surp Asdvadzadzin Patriarchal Church on Nov. 11, 2019.
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the press during the Argentina G20 Leaders' Summit 2018 on Dec. 1 in Buenos Aires. (Daniel Jayo/Getty Images)
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