📢The book is finally out in English! Obtain your copy by ordering from this link: buymeacoffee.com/rasmuscanba…

Eventually, prison officials told him that he was being released. “I said, ‘Then I do not need anything at all.’” He smiles. “But they suggested I at least put on my shoes.”

I met Armenian-Lebanese Vicken Euljekjian, who was a captive in Azerbaijan for 1,891 days. Here's his story. Exclusive interview. blankspot.se/free-after-1-89…

Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission officially certifies final results of June 7 parliamentary election. Civil Contract w/ 49.7% of the vote secures 3/5 majority, while Prosperous Armenia falls short of 4% threshold. Opposition forces continue to challenge outcome. evnreport.com/elections/arme…

Interviewed Vicken Euljekjian, an Armenian-Lebanese citizen, who was held captive in Azerbaijan for over five years. We spoke about his time in Azerbaijani prison, where the only human contact he had was with representatives from the @ICRC every 40th day. Story is coming.

Worst thing about being back in Sweden is that the Swedish political debate ahead of our September elections started to appear in my feed again.

Russia continues to double down on Armenian election. MFA spox Zakharova: "unprecedented pressure on the opposition... completely inadmissible, monstrous atmosphere of repression"

In 2023, Meduza had a similar scoop. Kremlin then ordered to blame Pashinyan for the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh. This time the message is to portray the Armenian elections as a loss for Civil Contract, to reduce the legitimacy.

Back in Sweden after five intense days in Armenia. Many things happening there after the elections, and a number of issues remain unresolved. Will, unfortunately, follow the developments from a distance.

Karapetyan in Tashir: 73% Pashinyan in Ijevan: 63% Tsarukyan in Arinj: 43%

Sadigov was deported (extradited) from Georgia to Azerbaijan a few months ago. The repression of him follows a pattern, where Azerbaijan has learned to not act immeditely on politically sensitive cases. Awaiting "space" makes public reaction calmer.

My five cents after the Armenian elections. Tomorrow I'll continue the reporting. buymeacoffee.com/rasmuscanba…

Wings of Unity, lead by @atatoyan, and who didn't enter parliament, declared the elections unlawful. The party has struggled to awake wide public support - often seen by oppositionals as softer than pro Russian parties. Critics called them a Troyan Horse. facebook.com/share/p/1DhcXhu…

Swedish FM congratulates Civil Contract on the elections. Not mentioning the party leader. That's a good consequence of jantelagen (google it). Party politics above individuals.

Georgian officials mirror things in Armenia to their favour.

Quite vivid calls are made on the Armenian opposition to boycot the parliament -- claiming fraud and non-recognition of the elections.

Azerbaijan's prosecutor just asked for 130 years in prison across 9 Toplum TV journalists — up to 16 years each — on absurd "smuggling" charges. This is the price Azerbaijanis pay for Europeans to get cheaper gas.

Had some meetings today. They enhanced the feeling that it might be a turbulent period both domestically and on peace talks with Azerbaijan.

You know the Armenian government is wildly popular in Georgia when the Georgian Dream adopts their terminology to influence Georgians, albeit in a twisted way and for their own kleptocratic and autocratic benefit, of course. A few days ago, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs @AraratMirzoyan responded to the Russian embargo by stating that Armenia would not trade its independence for strawberries. Today, Georgian Dream Speaker of the Parliament Shalva Papuashvili stated regarding potential suspension of the Schengen visa-free regime for Georgians that Georgia would not trade sovereignty for strawberries. In his opinion, Brussels imposes unjust, politically motivated, newly-made up preconditions for the visa-free regime, all against the established norm compliance that Georgia allegedly fully meets. It is possibly, but not necessarily, also of interest that Papuashvili used the word “sovereignty” instead of Mirzoyan’s “independence.” They are dying to build the “sovereign democracy,” after all.