“For those who are imprisoned, this will serve as a reminder: they have not been forgotten” – a statement by Veronica Zonabend, wife of @RubenVardanyan_ , on the new initiative in support of the Armenian hostages. #FreeArmenianHostages #FreeArmenianPOWs freearmenianprisoners.com/hu…

Ruben Vardanyan’s wife is organizing an international women’s humanitarian delegation to Azerbaijan @RubenVardanyan_ —a philanthropist, Aurora co-founder who invested $600M in global humanitarian & education projects—has been illegally imprisoned in Azerbaijan since Sept 2023.

RT @GoldenTent: Azerbaijan imprisoned an innocent civilian who was trying to retrieve his property. He was convicted on false charges, tort…

Veronika Zonabend, the wife of Ruben Vardanyan, has announced a new humanitarian initiative aimed at restoring contact between Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan and their families. In a public statement, she announced plans to organize an international women’s humanitarian delegation to Baku and appealed to Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner to facilitate visits to Armenian prisoners, as well as the delivery of letters, photographs, and family packages. As part of the initiative, letters of support for Armenian detainees are now being collected from around the world. Read the statement here: freearmenianprisoners.com/hu…

Armenia’s Central Election Commission won’t allow a revote in 3 districts where voting was canceled, saying it wouldn’t change anything, even though the annulled 222 votes for Prosperous Armenia would have put it over the threshold to enter parliament. trib.al/LRjPCuh

Heavy rains in Kapan, Armenia have caused orange water from the abandoned Kavart mine to flow into city streets, highlighting risks from old mining sites. These mines poison people/environment but they keep opening mines w poor safety standards. No wonder 🇦🇲has high cancer rate.

Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission made an extremely troubling decision yesterday that might undermine electoral integrity in Armenia. Wrote a Democracy Watch article about that.

Veronika Zonabend, the wife of detained Armenian businessman and former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, has announced a humanitarian initiative aimed at restoring contact between Armenians held in Azerbaijani prisons and their families. In a statement released on June 15, Zonabend said she plans to organize an international women’s humanitarian delegation to travel to Baku in the coming weeks. She called on Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner Sabina Aliyeva to facilitate meetings with Armenian detainees, allow visits to the Umbaki Penitentiary Complex, and enable the transfer of letters, photographs, and family packages. Zonabend said 19 Armenians, including Vardanyan, remain in detention in Azerbaijan, with some unable to communicate with relatives for years. She argued that humanitarian access has become more difficult following the closure of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office in Baku. The initiative will also collect letters of support for Armenian detainees over the next two weeks. According to Zonabend, the letters will be delivered alongside family packages if the visit takes place. “This initiative is not a political act,” she said. “It is an attempt to restore at least a minimal connection between those in detention, their families, and all those who care about their fate.”

ermenistanlı göçmen çocukların eğitim statüsü yıllardır bilinçli olarak bir arafta tutuluyor. istanbul'daki ermeni okullarına "misafir öğrenci" olarak devam edebiliyorlar ama sınıf arkadaşlarının aksine devlet onlara diploma vermiyor; böylece ilkokuldan ortaokula ya da ortaokuldan liseye geçemiyor, üniversite sınavına giremiyorlar. aileleleri türk vatandaşlığı alınca bu sefer "türkiye ermeni cemaatine" mensup sayılmadıklarından ermeni okullarına gidemiyorlar, devlet okullarına kaydolmaları zorunlu tutuluyor. okumak isteyen pek çok çocuk bu yok sayılmalar yüzünden okulu bıraktı, bırakıyor. türkiye-ermenistan normalleşiyor, normalleşecek derken tamamı anadolu kökenli ve yoksul ailelerden gelen çocuklar ayrımcılığa uğruyor. umarım @evrenselgzt'nin haberi bu haksızlığa son verilmesi için bir adım olur.

French Studio Claims Exclusive Rights to 250 Armenian Films, Citing Disputed 1990s Deal as Armenia Launches Review 🇦🇲 ➖➖➖ Kissani Films, a French production and distribution company, is asserting ownership by claiming exclusive rights to approximately 250 Armenian films, citing an agreement allegedly signed in the 1990s, a move that could place a sweeping portion of Armenia's cinematic legacy in foreign hands, reports the Armenian Film Society, citing The Cinema Foundation of Armenia. So far, it is not clear exactly which films are in question. The Foundation's statement does not list them, leaving the full scope of the dispute unknown. The Foundation says it will carry out a comprehensive review of the situation with relevant professional and governmental authorities, and that based on what it finds, it will take the necessary steps in line with Armenian law and the goal of protecting both the country's film heritage and its national interest. If upheld, the claim could carry major implications for Armenian cinema, potentially placing control over how a large share of the country's films are shown, distributed, and licensed around the world in the hands of a single foreign company. For a film tradition that stretches back more than a century, from the Soviet-era Armenfilm studio to the international acclaim of director Sergei Parajanov, the consequences would reach far beyond any one list of titles. The dispute is already having an effect. The Foundation has temporarily postponed a planned Armenian program in the Classics section of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, one of the most prestigious animation showcases in the world, citing the importance of the matter and the need to study the legal questions around it carefully. The delay pulls Armenian cinema from a major international stage at a time when the country has been working hard to raise its profile abroad. The Foundation, the state body that supports Armenian filmmaking and oversees the archiving and preservation of its films, called the country's film heritage one of the most important parts of its national memory and cultural identity. It said protecting, promoting, and representing that heritage internationally are among its top priorities. This is a developing story.

RT @nmatini: Q: If an Azerbaijani applies to your school @UWCDilijan, will you admit him/her? @RubenVardanyan_ : Of course, no problem. W…

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…

One of Ruben Vardanyan’s greatest achievements, while he remains unjustly imprisoned in Baku, is @AuroraPrize_ It has become a global symbol of gratitude,compassion & humanitarian action. Today, his mission continues through the dedicated efforts of @NoubarAfeyan & @esrailian

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for a special evening in Los Angeles in support of Aurora. The evening featured Aurora Luminary Pashtana Durrani @BarakPashtana, founder of @LEARNAfg, who spoke about her efforts to ensure Afghan girls and young women can continue learning despite significant barriers. We are grateful to our community of supporters who make it possible to champion courageous humanitarians around the world.

A French court in Rennes has found nine Azerbaijani citizens guilty of attempting to murder exiled blogger Mahammad Mirzali. The main suspect in the case, Emin Gasimov, was sentenced to 30 years in prison and given a lifetime ban from entering France. The other eight were given smaller sentences ranging from five to 15 years in prison. oc-media.org/france-sentence…

Armenian flower exporters facing Russian embargo are selling their produce locally at below production price: I bought a bouquet otherwise worth over 25 euros paying only 3 euros. This was 1 AM last night.

Russia has imposed further restrictions on the import and transit of Armenian goods. As restrictions continue streaming in, the Armenian government has rolled out a support package for exporters, adding that goods originally intended for Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) had been diverted to the EU. oc-media.org/yerevan-adopts-…