Astrid Vanezi

Baku Confirms it Demolished Stepanakert Cathedral

Today marks 205 years of Greek independence. I was grateful to stand in solidarity with Greek Orthodox New Yorkers at the Divine Liturgy, commemorating this triumph of self-determination. From Athens to Astoria, we are reminded that true freedom is the ability to live without fear and shape our own futures. That is the autonomy we are fighting to secure for every single New Yorker. In the words of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, let us march with deep gratitude for the sacrifices that have made our lives possible. Ζήτω η Ελλάδα!

Russia has temporarily banned the sale of Armenian Jermuk mineral water, according to Russian media reports published today, in a move that comes amid escalating trade pressure on Yerevan in recent weeks. The country’s consumer rights watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, has circulated a letter calling for “urgent measures to prevent possible harm to the life and public health of Russian citizens,” citing unspecified “violations of mandatory requirements” as the reason for the restriction. According to the Russian outlet RBC, more than 300,000 bottles of Jermuk water already inside Russia have been blocked for the time being. Jermuk is one of Armenia’s most recognizable brands, producing mineral water sourced from the spa town of the same name, located in the Vayots Dzor province. As of early 2024, Jermuk mineral water exports to Russia had grown to more than 15.2 million liters per year. In its statement today, Armenia’s food safety watchdog said it had yet to receive a notice on the matter from Russian authorities and would issue an update shortly. The restriction follows a series of new trade measures imposed by Moscow after a tense April 1 meeting between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Putin criticized Armenia’s efforts to deepen ties with the European Union, which Russia considers an unfriendly bloc. He also implicitly warned that Armenia could lose its preferential pricing on Russian natural gas if it moves toward EU membership or withdraws from the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union. Armenia insists it has no intention to do so in the near-term. The meeting was followed by increased scrutiny of Armenian imports and sharper public criticism of Yerevan’s foreign policy by Russian officials. Earlier this month, Russia also resumed a long-running criminal investigation into a fatal poisoning of a Russian citizen, which authorities claim may have been linked to the consumption of Jermuk water.

Τα εγκλήματα των Μογγόλων έχουν μορφή. Body of raped, tortured and beheaded Armenian woman in Bitlis

Shushi's Kanazh Zham, built in the mid-19th century, was destroyed two years ago. It was declared Russian and supposedly being restored. Azerbaijan's chief Muslim cleric even accompanied Catholic, Orthodox, and Jewish leaders there in mid-2021.

Today marks the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. As we honor the 1.5 million Armenians murdered by the Ottoman Empire across modern-day Turkey, Syria, and Armenia, we must refuse to let history repeat itself. In 2020, the military forces of Azerbaijan and Turkey attacked the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh. In 2023, Azerbaijan expelled over 100,000 Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, continuing the genocidal campaign that had begun over 100 years prior. On this day of remembrance, we reaffirm the right of the Armenian people — and all people — to freedom, safety, and self-determination.

Azerbaijan’s Muslim authority defends the demolition of two churches in Stepanakert as "structures built by an occupying power", insisting that "there is both a legal and moral basis" for it.

Clash Report, the Turkish psyop that half of political Twitter treats as gospel, had 49,200 followers within 20 hours of its very first tweet. The account — a major source of disinformation and bogus conspiracy theories — is botted as hell. And I can prove it 🧵

BREAKING: Viktor Orbán quits Hungary's parliament after 36 years – confirming my earlier scoop that he's planning a longer US trip this summer, where heads of the Orbán business empire – his daughter and son-in-law – already live, and where he could seek refuge from prosecution.

Clash Report, the Turkish psyop that half of political Twitter treats as gospel, had 49,200 followers within 20 hours of its very first tweet. The account — a major source of disinformation and bogus conspiracy theories — is botted as hell. And I can prove it 🧵

A second Russian vessel carrying stolen Ukrainian grain is approaching Haifa, Israel. Israel previously accepted grain cargo from another Russian ship despite prior warnings about its origin. Ukraine formally requested the vessel’s arrest as soon as it entered port, but Israeli authorities issued a response only after the ship had already departed, stating that no action could be taken because the vessel was no longer in Israeli port. And now, the second Rusian vessel with Ukrainian grain is en route to Haifa.