Igor A. Matveev is a Russian expert on Syria and the Middle East with a background in diplomacy. He is currently a visiting lecturer at the School of Government and International Affairs at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO-University). From 2014 to 2017, he headed the Trade and Economic Division of the Russian Embassy in Damascus. Matveev is the author of a series of books and articles dedicated to Syria's history, economy and foreign policy. His latest book is “The Economic Impact of the Syria Crisis: Lessons and Prospects” (Beirut: Arab Scientific Publishers, 2018).