Samuel Ben-Ur is a research analyst focusing on Christian persecution, Venezuela, and other areas at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). He holds dual B.A. degrees in political science and history from Tufts University, where he founded the Tufts Tribune, a campus newspaper focused on free speech and politically balanced reporting, and worked as a research assistant studying China policy and immigration.
The image of Russia as a bastion of conservative Christianity against a decadent West exists purely to legitimize Putin’s repression of any Christian communities beyond his control
Samuel Ben-Ur & Ivana StradnerFebruary 18, 2026