rayhan demytrie

BBC journalist covering the South Caucasus & Central Asia. Views are my own.

[rayhan demytrie @rayhandemytrie]

#Armenia’s parliamentary elections 2026 -a masterclass in democratic vote in post Soviet space

[Luxmy Gopal @luxmy_g]

@VitalyBBC Our correspondent @rayhandemytrie with an update on elections in Armenia🧵

[rayhan demytrie @rayhandemytrie]

Armenia’s social media is swamped by disinformation narratives ahead of June parliamentary elections

[Gegham Vardanyan @reporterarm]

Spread of organised political narratives, artificial behaviour, enhancing the visibility viewpoints by repeatedly posting similar texts: Armenian Youtube selected channels and narrativies monitoring ahead of Parliamentary elections in Armenia @LusineVos
https://t.co/VznnddU27n

[rayhan demytrie @rayhandemytrie]

I still cannot fathom how quickly #Georgian people lost their freedoms

[Formula NEWS | English @FormulaGe]

Ilia State University student Ani Pridonashvili is arrested for “obstructing pedestrian traffic” during daily protest, as Georgian Dream regime continues to jail protestors for effectively standing on sidewalk. Repeated “offense” can result in up to one year of imprisonment.

📽️ Mo Se

[rayhan demytrie @rayhandemytrie]

A very warm welcome for the French President @EmmanuelMacron in #Yerevan as more than 30 European leaders and PM of Canada converge for the @EPC summit

[Emmanuel Macron @EmmanuelMacron]

Très heureux de retrouver l’Arménie.

Merci pour cet accueil !

Avec la Communauté politique européenne demain, nous continuerons de bâtir une Europe plus souveraine. Puis avec mon ami le Premier ministre Nikol Pachinian nous scellerons un partenariat stratégique entre nos pays.

[Emmanuel Macron @EmmanuelMacron]

Très heureux de retrouver l’Arménie.

Merci pour cet accueil !

Avec la Communauté politique européenne demain, nous continuerons de bâtir une Europe plus souveraine. Puis avec mon ami le Premier ministre Nikol Pachinian nous scellerons un partenariat stratégique entre nos pays.

[rayhan demytrie @rayhandemytrie]

Let this victory have far reaching consequences for other governments inspired by Orban’s “illiberal democracy” bye bye the Hungarian authoritarian model

[Peter Fischer @Diplo_Peter]

This morning, I tweeted about the "promise of new beginnings"...
🇭🇺❤️🇪🇺

[Formula NEWS | English @FormulaGe]

Georgian opposition politician Zura Japaridze, who was just released after serving a seven-month sentence for refusing to appear before a so-called parliamentary investigative commission, has now been placed under GEL 30,000 bail in a separate “sabotage” case that includes charges of “sabotage and assisting a foreign state in hostile activities,” linked in part to his communication with Western officials and carrying the risk of many more years in prison.

The case unfolds as the majority of Georgia’s opposition political leaders are already behind bars, and as rights groups warn that Georgia now holds more political prisoners per capita than Russia.

The court also ordered the seizure of Japaridze’s passport and ID card and banned him from leaving Georgia without a prosecutor’s consent. He has been given 30 days to post bail.

Japaridze is charged under Articles 318(1) and 319 of the Criminal Code. The Prosecutor’s Office has brought the same charges against eight opposition leaders in total, including Elene Khoshtaria and Giorgi Vashadze. Prosecutors allege that opposition figures shared information—real or fabricated—with foreign representatives in an effort to trigger international sanctions against Georgia, claims the opposition dismisses as politically motivated.

[OC Media @OCMediaorg]

The wife of detained Abzas Media director Ulvi Hasanli was reportedly barred from leaving Azerbaijan in order to attend the Vaclav Havel Prize Award ceremony in which Hasanli is a finalist.

https://t.co/lGPaNYaRBB

[Peter Fischer @Diplo_Peter]

Big respect & thanks ❤️ to all who came out last night in #Tbilisi to show gratitude to 🇩🇪 & solidarity with me. 🙏🏼 for demanding end of attacks on foreign diplomats & recognition of our contribution to 🇬🇪 democracy & European path. 🇬🇪 has EU calling.
🇩🇪 & 🇪🇺 are here for that.

[Anush Ghavalyan @aghavalyan]

Some of the 23 Armenian captives in Azerbaijan have attempted suicide, lawyer Siranush Sahakian says.

Families learned of this during rare calls. Attempts reportedly rose after ICRC access was cut in June, leaving detainees without independent monitoring.

@aboehler
@EUSR_SCCiG

[Peter Fischer @Diplo_Peter]

Statement of 24 diplomatic missions on the sentencing of 🇬🇪 journalist Mzia Amaglobeli.

Co-signed by: 🇦🇹 🇧🇪 🇨🇦 🇨🇿 🇩🇰 🇪🇪 🇪🇺 🇫🇮 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇮🇸 🇮🇪 🇮🇹 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇱🇺🇳🇱 🇳🇴 🇵🇱 🇷🇴 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

[Tom Bateman @tombateman]

‘Europe has been trying to rekindle a long term solution. But diplomacy… is being punished not pursued by Washington. In the United Nations, seats are empty and those still talking are left on the sidelines.’ My #fooc
With @serenatarling @farhanahaider
https://t.co/KWNqca5LX4

[Gegham Vardanyan @reporterarm]

Armenia's PM offers to expose himself in escalating Church row
https://t.co/D079Pnjet7
@rayhandemytrie

[CIVILNET @CivilNetTV]

Armenian opposition activist and senior clergyman Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan was detained Wednesday as part of a sweeping crackdown on opposition figures.

https://t.co/6FjxPWNeh1

[rayhan demytrie @rayhandemytrie]

Preceding this horrendous sentence on June 20 seven journalists from independent @AbzasMedia were given a combined sentence of almost 60 years in jail for speaking the truth. #Azerbaijan @FreeAbzasMedia

[Thomas de Waal @Tom_deWaal]

https://t.co/5uQ9ZapCzR Outrageous news from Baku as young scholar and peace activist Bahruz Samadov is given a 15-year jail sentence for "treason." Sorry to say I'm told that the news is even worse: Bahruz tried to take his own life by hanging in his cell. He must be freed.

[Gegham Vardanyan @reporterarm]

'Everyone is scared': Iranians head to Armenia to escape conflict with Israel
https://t.co/KijV9Wc6Au
@rayhandemytrie

[rayhan demytrie @rayhandemytrie]

@annaholligan Can keep an eye on it on in georgia apparently lots of bikes end up here..

[rayhan demytrie @rayhandemytrie]

#Armenia’s future is tech. That’s what I kept hearing during a recent trip to #Yerevan. #Armath early tech education under @UATE__ is v impressive. More here https://t.co/18qs3TCXCd with thanks to my colleague @reporterarm

[Hans Gutbrod @HansGutbrod]

disgraceful spectacle of massive & multi-day GD / Imedi attacks on French Ambassador @Sherzag for... supporting the good work of @SovLab research on the Soviet past, and pictured with some of Tbilisi's finest people here.

This is done to try and cow all embassies & donors into submission, to vilify research into Soviet crimes, and to repress all civil society, also with attack on PEN Georgia ( @pen_int ).

Attempt specifically to tarnish ambos at home also, as GD has done with previous ambassadors. All the more reason to support them for standing up and being willing to engage! Merci pour vos efforts courageux!

[Gegham Vardanyan @reporterarm]

"Ruben Vardanyan is one of Armenia's richest men, but his millions are of little use now that he is facing a possible life term in jail in neighbouring Azerbaijan." @rayhandemytrie https://t.co/ZbyFP7xmyA