Aren Melik-Alaverdian

A classroom in Azerbaijan that apparently powers Europe’s heating

No other ancient document holds my interest and affection quite like this papyrus, written in Egypt and in the Armenian alphabet. It's a goldmine of linguistic evidence not for the Egyptian or the Armenian language, but for Greek! My introduction to it: open.substack.com/pub/dannylbate…

Armenia (54/100) stands as a clear regional leader in the #Freedom in the World 2026 report by @freedomhouse — a testament to 🇦🇲democratic progress & commitment to fundamental freedoms. A strong signal that reforms deliver, and that democracy is not only possible, but sustainable. 👉radar.am/en/news/politi…

.@freedomhouse Caucasus scores: Armenia 54; Georgia 51; Azerbaijan 6

Armenia and the EU have never been closer. At a time of crisis in the Middle East, our relationship and the work towards peace in the South Caucasus have become even more important for trade and energy links to Asia. With 🇦🇲 Prime Minister @NikolPashinyan we discussed how we can link the region better, bring prosperity and ensure peace lasts.

@cyberpunkdingo @DiegoMexican28 He inspired Armenian poet Avetik Isahakyan’s seminal work a millennium later. europeanheritagedays.com/Story/Explorin…

Here’s an ex-Muslim you should know, but probably haven’t even heard of: Abu al-Ala al-Maʿarri. He ironically lived in the 10th–11th century during what is often called the 'Islamic' Golden Age. Born into a Muslim family in Syria, he later rejected organized Islam entirely and became one of its most radical skeptics during his time. Al-Maʿarri openly mocked the claim that the Quran was a linguistic miracle that no human could replicate. In response, he hilariously wrote passages deliberately mimicking the Qur’an’s style in a work called Al-Fusul wa al-Ghayat to show that the challenge could be met. He even argued that talented poets of his time could easily produce works just as good or better. His ideas were so controversial that nearly a thousand years later militants from the Al-Nusra Front destroyed a statue of him in Syria.

At this point, it’s surrealist performance art

EU's Kaja Kallas: "We will not leave Armenia to face foreign interference alone. Democracies under pressure can count on Europe."

Thank the Government and the people of Armenia for facilitating the safe evacuation of over 550 Indian nationals from Iran so far. Appreciate their support in these challenging times. @AraratMirzoyan 🇮🇳 🇦🇲

Filmmaker on trial in Turkey for screening Armenian genocide film stockholmcf.org/filmmaker-on-t… via @StockholmCF

That's so well-deserved. -- From Mr Nobody to Oscar nominee: How one man took on Putin bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Armenian Church Saint John of Sohrol, Iran

🇫🇷🇦🇲 Missak Manouchian bientôt honoré à Erevan.

When Azerbaijan made the blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh full banning of even ICRC humanitarian convoys in July 2023 leading to starvation of people, Russian "peacekeepers" were receiving food by helicopters which Armenian children were watching from the ground. I've seen its video.

Armenia has refused Russian humanitarian aid intended for Nagorno‑Karabakh refugees ahead of the parliamentary elections. The Eurasia organisation, involved in delivering the aid, had previously been linked to interference in Moldova’s 2024 EU referendum. oc-media.org/armenia-reject…

The discourse of both pro-government media in Azerbaijan and significant segments of the nationalist opposition often frames the situation of ethnic Turkic people in Iran’s Azerbaijan provinces through the language of national liberation. Within this narrative, separatist aspirations among these communities are portrayed in a sympathetic and legitimizing light. At the same time, Azerbaijani authorities have consistently characterized the now-imprisoned Armenian leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh as illegitimate and terrorist, a framing that Azerbaijani nationalist opposition groups have largely adopted as well. This contrast illustrates how similar political phenomena can be evaluated differently depending on their alignment with prevailing national sentiments and political narratives.

More than two dozen genocide scholars from universities and research institutions in the United States and Europe issued a joint statement on Friday calling on the Armenian government to reinstate Edita Gzoyan, saying her removal threatens the international standing of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and raises concerns about academic independence. The statement followed remarks by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who said he had personally instructed Gzoyan to submit her resignation after her conduct during last month’s visit by U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex. “We, the undersigned, express deep concern over the recent and troubling developments at the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute in Yerevan,” the scholars said, adding that Gzoyan had resigned “reportedly under pressure from the government rather than by free choice.” The signatories said Gzoyan had strengthened the institute’s global academic reputation through archival expansion, international conferences, and scholarly publications, and warned that political interference in its leadership would discourage cooperation with researchers abroad. Pashinyan said that Gzoyan’s presentation to Vance of books related to Artsakh, and her references to anti-Armenian pogroms in Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku, contradicted Armenia’s foreign policy line. “I was the one who asked the director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute to submit a resignation letter; it was done on my instruction,” Pashinyan said at a government briefing. “I considered giving a book about Artsakh to Vance to be a provocative act that goes against the government’s policy.” Museum staff have protested the move, and genocide historian Raymond Kevorkian, along with several other board members, resigned in protest. The statement was signed by: Prof. Bedross Der Matossian, professor of history and Hymen Rosenberg Professor in Judaic Studies at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln; Prof. Elyse Semerdjian, chair in Armenian Genocide Studies at the Clark University; Prof. Armen Marsoobian, professor of philosophy at Southern Connecticut State University; Prof. Keith Watenpaugh, professor of human rights studies at University of California, Davis; Prof. Melanie Schulze Tanielian, associate professor of history at University of Michigan; Dr. Simon Maghakyan, faculty member at University of Oxford; Dr. Boris Adjemian, director of Bibliothèque Nubar; Mr. Marc Mamigonian, director of academic affairs at National Association for Armenian Studies and Research; Prof. Vahé Tachjian, Armenian studies chair at Saint Joseph University of Beirut; Prof. Houri Berberian, professor of history at University of California, Irvine; Prof. Henry Theriault, vice-chair of National Association for Armenian Studies and Research; Prof. Ronald Grigor Suny, professor emeritus at University of Michigan and University of Chicago; Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Armenian studies coordinator at California State University, Fresno; Prof. Lori Khatchadourian, associate professor at Cornell University; Dr. Hilmar Kaiser of University of Bern; Mr. Michael Bobelian, adjunct professor at Columbia University and Baruch College; Prof. A. Dirk Moses, professor at City College of New York; Prof. Hervè Georgelin of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; Mr. Gregory Aftandilian, senior professorial lecturer at American University; Prof. Julien Zarifian of University of Poitiers; Prof. Fatma Müge Göçek of University of Michigan; Prof. David Gaunt of Södertörn University; Prof. Tessa Hofmann, formerly of Free University of Berlin; Dr. Talar Chahinian of University of California, Irvine; Prof. Samuel Totten of University of Arkansas. The scholars said Gzoyan should be reinstated immediately and warned that leadership decisions at the institute should be based on academic qualifications rather than political considerations.

NEW!!! U.S. warns citizens to 'reconsider travel' to Azerbaijan amid rising Iran conflict fears State Department raises advisory to Level 3 following drone strikes and 'ongoing threat' of missile attacks from Tehran

✝️ In 1918, Hussein bin Ali al-Hashimi— a direct descendant of the #Prophet Muhammad and Sharif of Mecca-issued the decree: "Protect #Armenians 🇦🇲 as you would protect yourselves, your property, and your children." He saved up to 4,000 Armenians during the #Armenian Genocide. Never forget this act of humanity. Eternal gratitude to those who stood with Christian Armenians.

BREAKING: The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom’s 2026 report documents serious abuses against Armenian Christian prisoners from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), including alleged beatings, psychological abuse, denial of medical care, denial of Bibles, and the burning of cross tattoos. The report also cites the continued destruction of Christian religious heritage in Artsakh, with satellite imagery identifying destroyed and damaged churches, cemeteries, and other sacred sites. Full report: uscirf.gov/sites/default/…