ratsbatscats

European Armenian diasporan. #FreeArmenianPOWs #RecognizeArmenianGenocide

[ratsbatscats @ratsbatscats]

Looking for a Isle of Wight Festival 2026 ticket? https://t.co/BXOtAFlu7c

[Keir Starmer @Keir_Starmer]

It has been ten years since our friend and colleague Jo Cox was murdered by a far-right terrorist.

She was a dedicated mother, a fierce campaigner and a deeply committed Member of Parliament. Her conviction that we have more in common than that which divides us lives on beyond her death.

We all wish Jo was still here with us today, and we will continue to honour her legacy by standing by her message of hope and unity in the face of hatred and division.

[Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla]

A) This a properly brilliant piece of investigative journalism by BBC & @hopenothate. Huge kudos to all involved.

B) The Kremlin operative who BBC names as directing arson attacks against Keir Starmer was taught his tradecraft by…drumroll…Sergei Nalobin !!! Pictured here with Boris Johnson. Also: the star of our podcast series, Sergei & the Westminster Spy Ring! Wtaf

[Ed Davey @EdwardJDavey]

It looks as though Vladimir Putin may have ordered an arson attack against the British Prime Minister last year.

That is an incredibly serious escalation and shows why we must redouble our efforts with Ukraine and the rest of Europe to resist and deter Putin’s aggression.

[Socialist Opera Singer @OperaSocialist]

Ten years ago today Farage unveiled his racist "Breaking Point" poster.

Within hours a far-right sympathiser murdered the MP Jo Cox.

Instead of apologising, Farage went on to verbally attack her husband.

Farage has always been scum.

Never Vote Reform.

[ratsbatscats @ratsbatscats]

In case anyone wants tickets to the Isle of Wight Festival this solsice week, I was going primarily to see the Cure on Sunday but can no longer make it 😭 #thecure #thecureband #robertsmith #IOW2026 #IsleOfWightFestival https://t.co/5i8CDVdqI9

[Led By Donkeys @ByDonkeys]

BOARD OF PEACE - Season 1

[Syuzanna Avetisyan @SyuzAvet]

This is Gurgen, whom I've known since childhood. His parents are from my hometown. He lived in #Artsakh and was captured on Sept 19, 2023, due to #Azerbaijan's genocidal actions. Now he's being tried on false charges with Artsakh's leaders. #FreeArmenianHostages #FreeArmenianPOWs

[Guy Verhofstadt @guyverhofstadt]

Europe doesn’t need your hollow slogans or your brand of tech oligarchy.

🇪🇺 must be defended from nationalist populism and profiteers who undermine democracy, or risk losing the solidarity and progress that make Europe truly great!

[Siranush Sargsyan @SiranushSargsy1]

Today marks the 21st birthday of Vagharsak Grigoryan, who was killed in an Azerbaijani attack in the courtyard of Nerkhin Chartar School, Artsakh #NagornoKarabakh on April 2, 2016, at the age of 12.

[Nacho Sánchez Amor @NachoSAmor]

From @Europarl_EN we will follow closely the trial of the #Armenian detainees in #Azerbaijan. Only a fair trial, that respects every personal guarantee and in presence of intl observers, will be conducive to contribute to a permanent bilateral solution between the two countries.

[Arman Tatoyan @atatoyan]

The “trials” of Ruben Vardanyan, Bako Sahakyan & others are tools for 🇦🇿to degrade #Armenian dignity, legitimize false narratives, cover ethnic cleansing in #Artsakh & justify aggression against🇦🇲. They’re hostages, & their statements r extracted under torture, inhuman treatment.

[Nara @nmatini]

This fake trial in Azerbaijan’s kangaroo court is pure psychological terror on Armenian nation and propaganda show to cover up Azerbaijan’s war crimes, the genocidal blockade and ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh.

A crime against humanity!

#FreeArmenianHostages
#FreeRuben

[Ararat Petrosyan @araratpetrosian]

Photos of the illegal trial in Baku have surfaced. Armenian POW's appear severely emaciated, raising suspicions that they are being starved.

#Armenia
#Azerbaijan

[Lisa ♰ ֍ @HayAghchig]

Armenia’s gifted treasure, Bella Papikyan.

[Arshak Makichyan @MakichyanA]

You won’t find anything about it in the media. You’ve probably never heard about the blockade and ethnic cleansing in Artsakh either. They say Armenians fled to Eastern Armenia on their own, as if the blockade and decades of terror never happened.

[Ruben Vardanyan @RubenVardanyan_]

Statement by Ruben Vardanyan, Armenian Political Prisoner Illegally Incarcerated in Azerbaijan (conveyed to his family during his weekly phone call)
January 16, 2025

I would like to address the global community, to those who care about what is happening in our region, those opposed to religious persecution worldwide and those who wish for a lasting and genuine peace.

I, Ruben Vardanyan, have been detained at the Detention Center of the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan since September 27, 2023 – more than 470 days in total, including 340 days in solitary confinement and 23 days in a punishment cell. I would like to make an official statement before the start of the trial. If you are reading these words, it means that I have exhausted all other means to convey the truth about what is happening here.

A court hearing of my case is scheduled for January 17 at 3:00 PM. I have been informed that I am facing 42 charges, some of which carry sentences up to life imprisonment. However, I have not been granted the opportunity to fully review the official indictment. My lawyer and I were merely allowed to skim through 422 volumes of the case files, all written solely in theAzerbaijani language, which I do not understand, within a very short timeframe – from December 9, 2024, to January 8, 2025. I only received the list of charges in Russian on January 8, 2025.

Moreover, pressure has been exerted on me, my lawyer, and my interpreter to force us to backdate and sign documents, including falsified protocols and records of interrogations that never took place.

I officially declare: I have given no testimony since the day of my arrest, except during the first interrogation, where I only stated my name and surname. Let me reiterate: all protocols bearing my signature are falsifications. These documents do not exist in reality. My lawyer and interpreter were coerced into signing these documents.

I once again reiterate and state my complete innocence and the innocence of my Armenian compatriots also being held as political prisoners and demand an immediate end to this politically motivated case against us.

Despite our innocence and the political motivation of this trial, it is most likely that the prosecutor will ignore my plea and pursue a trial against us, in which case I demand and ask for your support in ensuring that I am afforded the following:

1. Allow me and my lawyer adequate time and opportunity to prepare for my defense. In particular, provide us with the opportunity to thoroughly review the case materials in a language I understand.
2. Eliminate all procedural violations and falsifications. Specifically, deem inadmissible all falsified documents and records of interrogations that never took place, as I have not provided any testimony since the day of my arrest.
3. Make my trial, and those of the Armenian political prisoners, public. I insist on the most open trial possible, with the participation of international journalists and representatives of humanitarian organizations.
4. Consolidate my case with the cases of the others accused. More than 400 of the 422 volumes in my case concern episodes from the general case of which only 6 are specifically related to false accusations against me. Separating my case into a separate proceeding is an artificial and unfounded decision.

I bear no anger or hatred. On the contrary, I genuinely empathize with all those who violate laws, moral principles, and the teachings of the Quran and other holy texts.

I am convinced that true peace will only be possible when the leaders of the countries involved in the conflict, with the support of their societies, can come together to lay flowers on the graves of all those who perished in this war.

I promise to do everything possible to ensure this happens during my lifetime. As the great Mahatma Gandhi said, the only way to save the world from self-destruction is to live by the principles of nonviolence, truth, and love. Through compassion for all people, regardless of their skin color, nationality, or religion, we can achieve true peace.

Thank you all for your support! I love and thank you all for your kindness toward me. Know that I am standing strong and believe that the truth will prevail.

Ruben Vardanyan

[Free Armenian Prisoners @FrArmPrisoners]

On the eve of his trial tomorrow, January 17, 2025, at 3:00 PM Baku time, Armenian humanitarian and political prisoner @RubenVardanyan_ shared a message (https://t.co/O7Rv2p8WT6) during his weekly phone call to his family.
@RubenVardanyan_ calls for:

➡️ Adequate time and resources for his defense.
➡️ An end to procedural violations and falsifications.
➡️ A public and transparent trial with international oversight.
➡️ Consolidation of his case with others accused.

Let’s stand together for justice and human rights. Share this post, use #FreeRubenVardanyan and #FreeArmenianPrisoners, and take action at https://t.co/obr4f7VfKc.

[Christian Solidarity International (CSI) @CSI_humanrights]

Statement from Ruben Vardanyan, one of the Armenians leaders who has been held hostage by #Azerbaijan since the ethnic cleansing of #Artsakh/#NagornoKarabakh eighteen months ago.

Vardanyan's trial on fabricated charges begins tomorrow in Baku.

[ԵtէsuիaՍoլ @HiMaHetYeGoUr]

#FreeVicken #FreeKaren
#FreeAlyosha #FreeLudvig
#FreeMadat #FreeHarutyun #FreeVagif #FreeGagik #FreeDavit #FreeGevorg
#FreeArmenianHostages prisoners #POWs hostages held in Azerbaijan @UN #BGRgroup @MTavlarides @JLLukawski @JustinRzepka @HaleyBarbour
#FreeArmenianPrisoners