Platform's Guidelines

These Conditions of Use (“Conditions”) govern your access to and use of the StarkTalk platform (“Platform”), a personal, non-commercial, voluntary initiative operated by Tatiana Stanovaya. By accessing or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Conditions. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform.

The Platform is hosted in France and is subject to French law and applicable EU regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These Conditions should be read in conjunction with our Privacy Policy and Legal Notice, both available on the Platform.

1. Purpose of the Platform

StarkTalk is an independent, non-commercial initiative created to foster structured, professional and respectful dialogue between experts in strategic security, foreign policy, arms control, military affairs, hybrid threats and related fields. Discussions may cover various global dimensions and larger international challenges, such as relations between Russia and the West, geopolitical conflicts (including the war in Ukraine), and other strategic issues.

The Platform is not affiliated with any government, political entity, institution or organisation. Membership and contributions are subject to selective approval. All discussions are moderated to maintain a calm, solution-oriented environment.

The Platform deliberately avoids:

• Political bias, propaganda, blame-shifting, score-settling, or criticism of any political regime or “hegemony”;
• Any content that promotes violence, illegal activities or personal attacks.

The objective is to generate practical, long-term ideas and recommendations that may contribute—however modestly—to preventing the further deterioration of international security. The Platform stands for peaceful coexistence.

2. User Roles

To ensure meaningful, safe discussions, the Platform allows the following forms of participation:

Visitors: No registration required. You may view open topics, positions, questions, answers and published proposals. You cannot participate in discussions, create content, ask questions, submit proposals or access restricted (members-only) topics.

Members: Registration and selective approval required. You may access all topics (including restricted ones), ask questions to Contributors, create and submit proposals, comment in the Sandbox, and vote on proposals and comments.

Contributors: Registration and selective approval required; reserved for verified experts. You may create and moderate topics, present positions, answer questions, publish proposals and moderate discussions within your own topics. Contributors act as moderators for the topics they initiate.

Anonymous members and contributors

• Intended for qualified professionals who cannot participate publicly under their own names due to personal or professional risk.
• Their real identity is verified privately by the administrator but is not disclosed to other users.
• On the Platform, they appear under a chosen nickname, together with a brief description of their field of expertise and country of association.
• Anonymous Members have the same rights as regular Members.
• Anonymous Contributors have the same rights as regular Contributors.

Administrators

Administrators manage the Platform, review registration requests, assign roles, moderate content and enforce these Conditions. By default, the Platform has two administrators: Tatiana Stanovaya (founder) and Dmitry Sidiorov (technical creator). Access levels may be restricted or revoked at the administrator’s sole discretion to protect the integrity and safety of the Platform.

All approved applicants are initially granted the role of Member. To become a Contributor (with the ability to create topics), please email contact@starktalk.com with a proposed discussion topic, including a clear dilemma for discussion, and a suggested counterpart, if possible. Once the topic and initial positions are agreed, Contributor status will be granted.

3. Registration

Registration is selective and not automatic. To apply as a Member or Contributor, you must provide through the platform:

• Full name and email address
• Country of association
• Workplace and position
• Competencies and short biography
• Profile photo
• Password (stored securely)

For anonymous registration, contact the administrator directly at contact@starktalk.com to arrange private verification.

Steps

• Submit your application via the Platform and confirm your email.
• The administrator reviews and approves (or declines) at their sole discretion and has no obligation to provide reasons.
• If approved, you will be assigned the appropriate role.

By registering, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old and agree to these Conditions, the Privacy Policy, and all Platform rules.

4. Rules of Conduct

The Platform encourages robust, evidence-based discussion but requires strict adherence to codes of professionalism and mutual respect. Prohibited conduct includes:

• Personal attacks, harassment, discrimination, hate speech and defamation
• Propaganda, politicised blame, score-settling and the delegitimisation of other participants
• Pejorative criticism of any political regime (“Putin’s regime”, “Western hegemony”, etc.)
• In particularly, criticism of any political regime that crosses into activism (e.g. calls to action or advocacy in favour of regime change)
• Sharing knowingly false, misleading or deliberately distorted information
• Promoting violence, illegal activities or threats
• Spamming, advertising, soliciting and off-topic content
• Impersonation or the provision of false information during registration

All content is moderated. Administrators and Contributors (within their topics) may edit, remove, anonymise or hide content, issue warnings, suspend accounts, or permanently revoke access without prior notice. Members who receive three warnings may lose both Member and/or Contributor status.

5. Content Rights

• All content created on the Platform (topics, positions, proposals, comments, etc.) remains part of the StarkTalk archive.
• By submitting content, you grant StarkTalk a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to host, display, reproduce and archive it for the purposes of the Platform in perpetuity.
• You remain the moral author of your content and retain any copyright you may hold.
• Under GDPR, you may request deletion of your personal data; in such cases, your content will remain published but fully anonymised.
• You may not delete, edit or remove contributions made by other users.
• You are solely responsible for the legality, accuracy and propriety of your contributions.

6. Liability

The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available” without any warranties, express or implied, regarding availability, accuracy, completeness or fitness for any purpose.

StarkTalk accepts no liability for:

• The accuracy, completeness, or use of any information or opinions shared by users
• Any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising from use of the Platform
• Third-party claims related to user content

Each user is solely responsible for their own contributions. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless StarkTalk and its administrators from any claims, losses or damages arising from your use of the Platform or your content.

7. Termination and Changes

StarkTalk may suspend or terminate your access at any time, without notice, for any reason, including suspected violation of these Conditions.

You may request the deletion of your account by emailing contact@starktalk.com (subject to GDPR processes).

These Conditions may be updated at any time. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Conditions. Please check this page periodically.

8. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Conditions are governed exclusively by French law. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Conditions or the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts in France.

9. Contact

For any questions, registration requests or concerns, please email: contact@starktalk.com

Last updated: January 19, 2026