Laurence Broers
@laurencebroers.bsky.social
Researcher, contemporary South Caucasus politics & regional dynamics | Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict | associate fellow, Chatham House | co-editor-in-chief, Caucasus Survey | recovering Xile
oc-media.org/opinion-my-f... Gulnara Mehdiyeva hits the nail on the head: "If Armenia & Azerbaijan have initialled a text that condemns intolerance & racial hatred, then jailing a researcher whose work has been about refusing hatred is an error that must be corrected." Bahruz Samadov must be freed.
https://oc-media.org/opinion-my-friend-bahruz-is-in-prison-for-advocating-peace-now-thats-state-policy/"If
August 23, 2025 at 10:44 AM
oc-media.org/opinion-my-f... Gulnara Mehdiyeva hits the nail on the head: "If Armenia & Azerbaijan have initialled a text that condemns intolerance & racial hatred, then jailing a researcher whose work has been about refusing hatred is an error that must be corrected." Bahruz Samadov must be freed.
www.chathamhouse.org/2025/08/us-i... My latest, on the Washington peace summit between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
US intervention opens new page in Armenia–Azerbaijan peace talks but challenges remain
Regional powers and domestic politics threaten the persuasive optics of the White House summit.
www.chathamhouse.org
August 13, 2025 at 5:06 PM
www.chathamhouse.org/2025/08/us-i... My latest, on the Washington peace summit between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Reposted by Laurence Broers
My first book, which discusses Sub-State Recognition, & co-authored with @gezimvisoka.bsky.social, is out now!
#DeFactoStates
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
#DeFactoStates
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
August 12, 2025 at 4:33 PM
My first book, which discusses Sub-State Recognition, & co-authored with @gezimvisoka.bsky.social, is out now!
#DeFactoStates
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
#DeFactoStates
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
chaotic2000s.blogspot.com/2025/08/a-fe... If you only read one take on the Washington DC Armenia-Azerbaijan deal, make sure it is this one by the invariably insightful @drkevorko.bsky.social
A Few Words about that 'Peace Summit' in DC
The past few days have seen a considerable amount of (somewhat premature) euphoria regarding a 'peace summit' in Washington DC between Donal...
chaotic2000s.blogspot.com
August 12, 2025 at 5:17 PM
chaotic2000s.blogspot.com/2025/08/a-fe... If you only read one take on the Washington DC Armenia-Azerbaijan deal, make sure it is this one by the invariably insightful @drkevorko.bsky.social
www.mfa.am/en/press-rel... Text of the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization agreement initialled in Washington on Friday now published - NB this was the product of bilateral negotiations without mediation and this isn’t yet signed - but the contents presumably now locked in.
Publication of the initialed Agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan
By mutual agreement, the initialed Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan is published.
www.mfa.am
August 11, 2025 at 1:25 PM
www.mfa.am/en/press-rel... Text of the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization agreement initialled in Washington on Friday now published - NB this was the product of bilateral negotiations without mediation and this isn’t yet signed - but the contents presumably now locked in.
top-center.org/en/analytics... Here is a cautiously optimistic perspective from Gulkhanim Mammadova on yesterday’s summit.
A historic pivot in Armenia and Azerbaijan: the promise of peace and the road ahead
On August 8, in an unexpected yet very symbolic venue, the White House, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a joint memorandum to show their commitment to p...
top-center.org
August 9, 2025 at 6:52 PM
top-center.org/en/analytics... Here is a cautiously optimistic perspective from Gulkhanim Mammadova on yesterday’s summit.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a... Iran registers its concern regarding the TRIPP… this was inevitable.
Iran and Russia stand to lose from US deal with Azerbaijan and Armenia
Trump-brokered peace treaty predicted to suffocate geopolitical influence of Washington’s rivals in region
www.theguardian.com
August 9, 2025 at 5:20 PM
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a... Iran registers its concern regarding the TRIPP… this was inevitable.
Reposted by Laurence Broers
Having watched the ceremony and read the text that they signed, a few additional thoughts. tl;dr: it was a positive event, but a lot of pitfalls lie ahead.
Later today Donald Trump is meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev; Trump promises that it will be an “official Peace Signing Ceremony.” Will it be? A background thread.
August 9, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Having watched the ceremony and read the text that they signed, a few additional thoughts. tl;dr: it was a positive event, but a lot of pitfalls lie ahead.
Some further reflections on yesterday’s White House summit between President Aliyev, PM Pashinyan and President Trump. It was by all accounts an extraordinary day, whose time-honoured optics and symbolism could seduce all but the most hardened observers of the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process.
August 9, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Some further reflections on yesterday’s White House summit between President Aliyev, PM Pashinyan and President Trump. It was by all accounts an extraordinary day, whose time-honoured optics and symbolism could seduce all but the most hardened observers of the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process.
evnreport.com/evn-security... Here is a positive analysis of today's Armenian-Azerbaijani meeting in the White House from Nerses Kopalyan for @evnreport.bsky.social (though I'd prefer to avoid the Pax Americana framing)
Pax Americana Comes to the South Caucasus
Listen to the Security Report. Your browser does not support the audio element. In early March, U.S. intelligence as well
evnreport.com
August 8, 2025 at 9:38 PM
evnreport.com/evn-security... Here is a positive analysis of today's Armenian-Azerbaijani meeting in the White House from Nerses Kopalyan for @evnreport.bsky.social (though I'd prefer to avoid the Pax Americana framing)
Reposted by Laurence Broers
Later today Donald Trump is meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev; Trump promises that it will be an “official Peace Signing Ceremony.” Will it be? A background thread.
August 8, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Later today Donald Trump is meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev; Trump promises that it will be an “official Peace Signing Ceremony.” Will it be? A background thread.
Reposted by Laurence Broers
🇦🇲 🇦🇿 What are the outstanding issues that might challenge any peace deal struck at today's trilateral meetings between Armenia, Azerbaijan and the United States?
Read an analysis by Mehriban Rahimli: www.gmfus.org/news/armenia...
Read an analysis by Mehriban Rahimli: www.gmfus.org/news/armenia...
Is an Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Agreement Really Close?
Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev are due to meet in the White House in Washington on Friday, reportedly to sign a memorandum of understanding toward…
www.gmfus.org
August 8, 2025 at 3:00 PM
🇦🇲 🇦🇿 What are the outstanding issues that might challenge any peace deal struck at today's trilateral meetings between Armenia, Azerbaijan and the United States?
Read an analysis by Mehriban Rahimli: www.gmfus.org/news/armenia...
Read an analysis by Mehriban Rahimli: www.gmfus.org/news/armenia...
It is another big day for Armenian-Azerbaijani diplomacy. Today President Donald Trump receives Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan at the White House in what has been trailed as a historic meeting.
August 8, 2025 at 9:38 AM
It is another big day for Armenian-Azerbaijani diplomacy. Today President Donald Trump receives Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan at the White House in what has been trailed as a historic meeting.
Reposted by Laurence Broers
Truly energised by the #iccees2025 roundtable devoted to my new book, "Unfinished Empire".
Huge thanks to Yuliya Yurchenko, Ostap Kushnir, @laurencebroers.bsky.social) & Sofya du Boulay for their incisive and generous comments - and to the engaged audience who joined the discussion.
Huge thanks to Yuliya Yurchenko, Ostap Kushnir, @laurencebroers.bsky.social) & Sofya du Boulay for their incisive and generous comments - and to the engaged audience who joined the discussion.
July 25, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Truly energised by the #iccees2025 roundtable devoted to my new book, "Unfinished Empire".
Huge thanks to Yuliya Yurchenko, Ostap Kushnir, @laurencebroers.bsky.social) & Sofya du Boulay for their incisive and generous comments - and to the engaged audience who joined the discussion.
Huge thanks to Yuliya Yurchenko, Ostap Kushnir, @laurencebroers.bsky.social) & Sofya du Boulay for their incisive and generous comments - and to the engaged audience who joined the discussion.
Reposted by Laurence Broers
brill.com/view/journal... Gülfem Alıcı's book review of Empire of Refugees. North Caucasian Muslims and the Late Ottoman State written by Vladimer Hamed-Troyansky.
brill.com
July 22, 2025 at 8:47 AM
brill.com/view/journal... Gülfem Alıcı's book review of Empire of Refugees. North Caucasian Muslims and the Late Ottoman State written by Vladimer Hamed-Troyansky.
Reposted by Laurence Broers
brill.com/view/journal... [new article, paywalled] Reinterpreting the 1917 Revolution in Daghestan: Conflicting Narratives and the Vernacular Perspective of Ali Kaiaev, by Shamil Shikhaliev and Naira Sahakyan.
brill.com
July 22, 2025 at 8:48 AM
brill.com/view/journal... [new article, paywalled] Reinterpreting the 1917 Revolution in Daghestan: Conflicting Narratives and the Vernacular Perspective of Ali Kaiaev, by Shamil Shikhaliev and Naira Sahakyan.
www.zmo.de/en/events/sc... Happening this Friday in Berlin: a discussion of academic freedom and the future of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. All welcome!
Scholars, Academic Freedom and the Future of Armenian-Azerbaijani Relations
Panel Discussion at Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient with
Vicken Cheterian (University of Geneva)
Altay Goyushov (Baku Research Institute)
Aude Merlin (Université Libre de Bruxelles)
Laurence...
www.zmo.de
July 7, 2025 at 9:28 AM
www.zmo.de/en/events/sc... Happening this Friday in Berlin: a discussion of academic freedom and the future of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. All welcome!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/%... This is a very useful survey (in Russian) of where things stand in Armenia, with the always excellent @olesyavart.bsky.social
Власти Армении арестовали нескольких оппозиционеров. Их обвиняют в подготовке переворота, сами они называют аресты репрессиями. А что н
Podcast Episode · Что случилось · 06/30/2025 · 45m
podcasts.apple.com
July 1, 2025 at 2:42 PM
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/%... This is a very useful survey (in Russian) of where things stand in Armenia, with the always excellent @olesyavart.bsky.social
Ulviyya Ali interviewed Bahruz Samadov in prison, translated by @cavid.info. Bahruz tells her with regard to the case against him: "At the State Security Service, I was told the issue was Armenians citing my articles.” A sad, tragic state of affairs...
Even in prison, @ulviyyaali.bsky.social doesn't stop doing journalism. Here is her interview with Bahruz Samadov. medium.com/@cavidaga/ul...
Ulviyya Ali’s interview with Bahruz Samadov
Originally published by AbzasMedia in Azerbaijani. The translation to English is part of my efforts to highlight the unjust arrest of my…
medium.com
June 30, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Ulviyya Ali interviewed Bahruz Samadov in prison, translated by @cavid.info. Bahruz tells her with regard to the case against him: "At the State Security Service, I was told the issue was Armenians citing my articles.” A sad, tragic state of affairs...
www.amnesty.org/fr/documents... “Academics dealt long prison sentences on spurious charges” in Azerbaijan - Amnesty International @amnesty.org
Azerbaijan: Academics dealt long prison sentences on spurious charges
Academics Bahruz Samadov and Igbal Abilov, sentenced to 15 and 18 years respectively on fabricated charges of treason following unfair trials, must be immediately and unconditionally released. Their p...
www.amnesty.org
June 26, 2025 at 10:39 PM
www.amnesty.org/fr/documents... “Academics dealt long prison sentences on spurious charges” in Azerbaijan - Amnesty International @amnesty.org
www.zmo.de/en/events/sc... Public event being held in Berlin on 11 July: 'Scholars, Academic Freedom and the Future of Armenian-Azerbaijani Relations', followed by a reception. All welcome (registration required).
Scholars, Academic Freedom and the Future of Armenian-Azerbaijani Relations
Panel Discussion at Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient with
Vicken Cheterian (University of Geneva)
Altay Goyushov (Baku Research Institute)
Aude Merlin (Université Libre de Bruxelles)
Laurence...
www.zmo.de
June 26, 2025 at 2:04 PM
www.zmo.de/en/events/sc... Public event being held in Berlin on 11 July: 'Scholars, Academic Freedom and the Future of Armenian-Azerbaijani Relations', followed by a reception. All welcome (registration required).
www.bbc.com/russian/arti... Armenia's 2026 election season is now definitively opened with the arrest of 14 figures associated w/ opposition circles, including archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan. PM Pashinyan has said this network is involved in a Russian-sponsored coup attempt planned for this summer.
Власти Армении говорят о разоблачении связанного с Россией заговора. Это волна репрессий, утверждает оппозиция - BBC News Русская служба
Близкие к армянской власти СМИ утверждают, что за заговором стояла Россия, но в Кремле называют происходящее внутренним делом Армении.
www.bbc.com
June 26, 2025 at 8:45 AM
www.bbc.com/russian/arti... Armenia's 2026 election season is now definitively opened with the arrest of 14 figures associated w/ opposition circles, including archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan. PM Pashinyan has said this network is involved in a Russian-sponsored coup attempt planned for this summer.
Reposted by Laurence Broers
oc-media.org/azerbaijani-... Outrageous news from Baku as young scholar and peace activist Bahruz Samadov is given a 15-year jail sentence for "treason." I'm afraid I hear that the news is even worse: Bahruz tried to take his own life by hanging in his cell over the weekend. He must be freed.
Azerbaijani researcher Bahruz Samadov sentenced to 15 years on charges of treason
Samadov, who has also contributed to OC Media, frequently wrote about authoritarianism in Azerbaijan.
oc-media.org
June 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
oc-media.org/azerbaijani-... Outrageous news from Baku as young scholar and peace activist Bahruz Samadov is given a 15-year jail sentence for "treason." I'm afraid I hear that the news is even worse: Bahruz tried to take his own life by hanging in his cell over the weekend. He must be freed.
Yesterday young Azerbaijani scholar Bahruz tried to commit suicide after learning that the prosecutor had requested a sentence of 16 years; today he was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, on account of his contacts with Armenian analysts and journalists.
June 23, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Yesterday young Azerbaijani scholar Bahruz tried to commit suicide after learning that the prosecutor had requested a sentence of 16 years; today he was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, on account of his contacts with Armenian analysts and journalists.