Nicolas Bouchet
@nickbouchet.bsky.social
German Marshall Fund Senior Visiting Fellow.
US foreign policy, democratization, democracy promotion, civil society. Throw in some Eastern Europe and Russia and we're mostly good to go.
US foreign policy, democratization, democracy promotion, civil society. Throw in some Eastern Europe and Russia and we're mostly good to go.
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
France arrests leaders of NGO “SOS Donbass” on suspicion of spying for Russia, spreading pro-Kremlin war propaganda
Investigators view it as part of a broader network of “humanitarian” NGOs that Russia may be using to advance its interests in France.
Investigators view it as part of a broader network of “humanitarian” NGOs that Russia may be using to advance its interests in France.
France arrests leaders of NGO “SOS Donbass” on suspicion of spying for Russia, spreading pro-Kremlin war propaganda
French authorities have taken into custody the leaders of the “SOS Donbass” association — founder Anna Novikova and current president Vincent Perfetti — on suspicion of spying for Russia under the cov...
theins.press
November 26, 2025 at 5:45 PM
France arrests leaders of NGO “SOS Donbass” on suspicion of spying for Russia, spreading pro-Kremlin war propaganda
Investigators view it as part of a broader network of “humanitarian” NGOs that Russia may be using to advance its interests in France.
Investigators view it as part of a broader network of “humanitarian” NGOs that Russia may be using to advance its interests in France.
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
💥Bosnia's minister of defense refused to let the plane of Viktor Orbán’s foreign minister Péter Szijjártó land in Banja Luka, citing Hungary’s support for secessionist leader Milorad Dodik and the lack of a clear explanation for why Szijjártó arrived on a military aircraft, N1 Info reported.
November 26, 2025 at 3:08 PM
💥Bosnia's minister of defense refused to let the plane of Viktor Orbán’s foreign minister Péter Szijjártó land in Banja Luka, citing Hungary’s support for secessionist leader Milorad Dodik and the lack of a clear explanation for why Szijjártó arrived on a military aircraft, N1 Info reported.
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan says a constitutional referendum will be held after the 2026 parliamentary elections, arguing it is needed to create the ‘aerodynamics’ for long-term stability and clarify Armenia’s political direction for decades.
oc-media.org/pashinyan-sa...
oc-media.org/pashinyan-sa...
Pashinyan says Armenian constitutional referendum to take place after 2026 elections
The referendum encompasses a number of questions, some of them directly linked with Azerbaijan’s preconditions for a peace deal.
oc-media.org
November 26, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan says a constitutional referendum will be held after the 2026 parliamentary elections, arguing it is needed to create the ‘aerodynamics’ for long-term stability and clarify Armenia’s political direction for decades.
oc-media.org/pashinyan-sa...
oc-media.org/pashinyan-sa...
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
Hungarian foreign policy needs to be reimagined.
Check out my new @revdem2020.bsky.social piece outlining the strategic framework for reorienting #Hungary’s #ForeignPolicy after a democratic transition, highlighting the key challenges, trade-offs, and opportunities.
revdem.ceu.edu/2025/11/25/r...
Check out my new @revdem2020.bsky.social piece outlining the strategic framework for reorienting #Hungary’s #ForeignPolicy after a democratic transition, highlighting the key challenges, trade-offs, and opportunities.
revdem.ceu.edu/2025/11/25/r...
Reimagining Hungary’s Foreign Policy: Challenges and Opportunities for a Future Democratic Government | Review of Democracy
The April 2026 elections can mark the end of Hungary’s 16-year experiment with illiberalism and open a new chapter in its relations with Europe and the wider world. After more than a decade of multive...
revdem.ceu.edu
November 26, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Hungarian foreign policy needs to be reimagined.
Check out my new @revdem2020.bsky.social piece outlining the strategic framework for reorienting #Hungary’s #ForeignPolicy after a democratic transition, highlighting the key challenges, trade-offs, and opportunities.
revdem.ceu.edu/2025/11/25/r...
Check out my new @revdem2020.bsky.social piece outlining the strategic framework for reorienting #Hungary’s #ForeignPolicy after a democratic transition, highlighting the key challenges, trade-offs, and opportunities.
revdem.ceu.edu/2025/11/25/r...
On that BBC-Trump thing, while it is a profound embarassment for the BBC, commentators on this site should also familiarize themselves with the UK's famously cuddly and fluffy libel law tradition.
November 25, 2025 at 6:45 PM
On that BBC-Trump thing, while it is a profound embarassment for the BBC, commentators on this site should also familiarize themselves with the UK's famously cuddly and fluffy libel law tradition.
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Paris-based media watchdog, said press freedom violations in Georgia have reached “unprecedented levels,” documenting 600 attacks on the press in one year.
RSF: Press Freedom Violations in Georgia Reach ‘Unprecedented’ Levels, 600 Attacks in One Year - Civil Georgia
Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Paris-based media watchdog, said press freedom violations in Ge
civil.ge
November 25, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Paris-based media watchdog, said press freedom violations in Georgia have reached “unprecedented levels,” documenting 600 attacks on the press in one year.
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
✍️ In the first op-ed of his new series, @danielhegedus.bsky.social outlines the strategic framework for a reorientation of the foreign policy of a future democratic Hungary, mapping the challenges, trade-offs, and opportunities. 🇭🇺🇭🇺
🧑💻 Read it now:
👉 tinyurl.com/cbtcew39
🧑💻 Read it now:
👉 tinyurl.com/cbtcew39
November 25, 2025 at 3:13 PM
✍️ In the first op-ed of his new series, @danielhegedus.bsky.social outlines the strategic framework for a reorientation of the foreign policy of a future democratic Hungary, mapping the challenges, trade-offs, and opportunities. 🇭🇺🇭🇺
🧑💻 Read it now:
👉 tinyurl.com/cbtcew39
🧑💻 Read it now:
👉 tinyurl.com/cbtcew39
Good article. Despite the authors' reservations about democracy multilateralism that is too ideologically narrow, their explanation for why earlier attempts at more global eforts did not take off suggests that different efforts by smaller "affinity groups" of governments would be an OK development.
With the U.S. pulling out of democracy support, leaders from Spain and the Americas have formed a new global initiative to protect democracy. But these leaders face challenges at home and abroad.
@oliverstuenkel.bsky.social and Adrian Feinberg explain: carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
@oliverstuenkel.bsky.social and Adrian Feinberg explain: carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
The New Democracy Defenders
With U.S. democracy support receding, progressive leaders from Spain and Latin America have pioneered a global initiative to combat backsliding. Can it succeed?
carnegieendowment.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Good article. Despite the authors' reservations about democracy multilateralism that is too ideologically narrow, their explanation for why earlier attempts at more global eforts did not take off suggests that different efforts by smaller "affinity groups" of governments would be an OK development.
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
Dutch public broadcaster NOS (finally) stops posting on X.
The disadvantages are seen as too big. The reach has dwindled.
In the category, 'better late than never': good choice.
over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...
The disadvantages are seen as too big. The reach has dwindled.
In the category, 'better late than never': good choice.
over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...
NOS plaatst vanaf vandaag geen nieuwsberichten meer op X - Over NOS
De NOS en Nieuwsuur (NOS/NTR) zijn gestopt met posten op X. Het platform past niet meer bij onze visie op...
over.nos.nl
November 25, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Dutch public broadcaster NOS (finally) stops posting on X.
The disadvantages are seen as too big. The reach has dwindled.
In the category, 'better late than never': good choice.
over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...
The disadvantages are seen as too big. The reach has dwindled.
In the category, 'better late than never': good choice.
over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
Very much looking forward to this discussion on Dec 5!
Happy to be on panel again with the one and only and much too kind @casmudde.bsky.social!
I'll talk about the emerging organizational networks and non-party actors on the far right.
Register via email at dorothee.mertz[at]cmb.hu-berlin.de
Happy to be on panel again with the one and only and much too kind @casmudde.bsky.social!
I'll talk about the emerging organizational networks and non-party actors on the far right.
Register via email at dorothee.mertz[at]cmb.hu-berlin.de
Looking forward to this online event next week, which is open to all!
I will once again share a (virtual) stage with the wonderful @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social 👩🎓
I will once again share a (virtual) stage with the wonderful @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social 👩🎓
November 24, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Very much looking forward to this discussion on Dec 5!
Happy to be on panel again with the one and only and much too kind @casmudde.bsky.social!
I'll talk about the emerging organizational networks and non-party actors on the far right.
Register via email at dorothee.mertz[at]cmb.hu-berlin.de
Happy to be on panel again with the one and only and much too kind @casmudde.bsky.social!
I'll talk about the emerging organizational networks and non-party actors on the far right.
Register via email at dorothee.mertz[at]cmb.hu-berlin.de
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
Plausible worst case scenario with Venezuela in four steps:
1. Rubio and Venezuelan exiles sell the idea of decapitation strikes against Maduro to Trump as the one big thing that solves Venezuela, cartels and Cuba for the US.
1. Rubio and Venezuelan exiles sell the idea of decapitation strikes against Maduro to Trump as the one big thing that solves Venezuela, cartels and Cuba for the US.
November 24, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Plausible worst case scenario with Venezuela in four steps:
1. Rubio and Venezuelan exiles sell the idea of decapitation strikes against Maduro to Trump as the one big thing that solves Venezuela, cartels and Cuba for the US.
1. Rubio and Venezuelan exiles sell the idea of decapitation strikes against Maduro to Trump as the one big thing that solves Venezuela, cartels and Cuba for the US.
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
Nov 26, 3pm CET, @gmfus.bsky.social webinar
As the Hungarian parliamentary election campaign takes off, Zsófia Banuta, @danielhegedus.bsky.social, Péter Krekó, Dániel Róna & I discuss parties' chances, tactics & necessary steps to improve election integrity
Register: www.gmfus.org/event/hungar...
As the Hungarian parliamentary election campaign takes off, Zsófia Banuta, @danielhegedus.bsky.social, Péter Krekó, Dániel Róna & I discuss parties' chances, tactics & necessary steps to improve election integrity
Register: www.gmfus.org/event/hungar...
Hungary’s 2026 Elections: The Stakes and Challenges
Hungary’s 2026 parliamentary elections offer the greatest opportunity for a change in the country’s leadership since Prime Minister Viktor Orbán assumed power 16 years ago. His time in office has been...
www.gmfus.org
November 24, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Nov 26, 3pm CET, @gmfus.bsky.social webinar
As the Hungarian parliamentary election campaign takes off, Zsófia Banuta, @danielhegedus.bsky.social, Péter Krekó, Dániel Róna & I discuss parties' chances, tactics & necessary steps to improve election integrity
Register: www.gmfus.org/event/hungar...
As the Hungarian parliamentary election campaign takes off, Zsófia Banuta, @danielhegedus.bsky.social, Péter Krekó, Dániel Róna & I discuss parties' chances, tactics & necessary steps to improve election integrity
Register: www.gmfus.org/event/hungar...
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
This story should be covered waaaaayy more than it is.
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Nicolas Guillou, French ICC judge sanctioned by the US: 'You are effectively blacklisted by much of the world's banking system'
Six judges and three prosecutors at the International Criminal Court have been sanctioned by the Trump administration. In an interview with Le Monde, Guillou discusses the impact of these measures on ...
www.lemonde.fr
November 24, 2025 at 8:13 PM
This story should be covered waaaaayy more than it is.
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
Grand opening, grand closing.
X quietly disabled a new feature that showed which country an account was posting from when it revealed that lots of popular right wing MAGA accounts were being run from foreign countries like India and Nigeria.
X quietly disabled a new feature that showed which country an account was posting from when it revealed that lots of popular right wing MAGA accounts were being run from foreign countries like India and Nigeria.
November 22, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Grand opening, grand closing.
X quietly disabled a new feature that showed which country an account was posting from when it revealed that lots of popular right wing MAGA accounts were being run from foreign countries like India and Nigeria.
X quietly disabled a new feature that showed which country an account was posting from when it revealed that lots of popular right wing MAGA accounts were being run from foreign countries like India and Nigeria.
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
What many politicians don't realise - or want to understand - is that many of the "highly-skilled" immigrants whose labour they crave were raised by the same asylum seekers and refugees they openly despise. They take the racist political rhetoric personally, and act accordingly. Why wouldn't they?
"Record numbers of overseas-trained doctors are quitting the UK, leaving the NHS at risk of huge gaps in its workforce, with hostility towards migrants blamed for the exodus...the NHS is so heavily reliant on doctors from elsewhere – 42% of its entire medical workforce qualified overseas."
All those people, including current government, who falsely claim migrants are to blame for failings with the NHS, along with infrastructure in general, are in for one hell of a shock with how much worse things will get with Labour's anti-immigration policies.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
November 21, 2025 at 10:04 AM
What many politicians don't realise - or want to understand - is that many of the "highly-skilled" immigrants whose labour they crave were raised by the same asylum seekers and refugees they openly despise. They take the racist political rhetoric personally, and act accordingly. Why wouldn't they?
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
All the rape, torture, and murder will be brushed under the carpet, a great lesson for any future war criminals.
November 21, 2025 at 7:08 AM
All the rape, torture, and murder will be brushed under the carpet, a great lesson for any future war criminals.
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
🇭🇺#Hungary’s 2026 #Elections: The Stakes and Challenges
📢Join us for this online panel with Zsófia Banuta, Péter Krekó, Dániel Róna, @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social & yours truly
📅Nov 26, 3:00 pm CET / 9:00 am EST
RSVP👉 www.gmfus.org/event/hungar...
@gmfus.bsky.social @engagingce.bsky.social
📢Join us for this online panel with Zsófia Banuta, Péter Krekó, Dániel Róna, @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social & yours truly
📅Nov 26, 3:00 pm CET / 9:00 am EST
RSVP👉 www.gmfus.org/event/hungar...
@gmfus.bsky.social @engagingce.bsky.social
Hungary’s 2026 Elections: The Stakes and Challenges
Hungary’s 2026 parliamentary elections offer the greatest opportunity for a change in the country’s leadership since Prime Minister Viktor Orbán assumed power 16 years ago. His time in office has been...
www.gmfus.org
November 21, 2025 at 9:22 AM
🇭🇺#Hungary’s 2026 #Elections: The Stakes and Challenges
📢Join us for this online panel with Zsófia Banuta, Péter Krekó, Dániel Róna, @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social & yours truly
📅Nov 26, 3:00 pm CET / 9:00 am EST
RSVP👉 www.gmfus.org/event/hungar...
@gmfus.bsky.social @engagingce.bsky.social
📢Join us for this online panel with Zsófia Banuta, Péter Krekó, Dániel Róna, @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social & yours truly
📅Nov 26, 3:00 pm CET / 9:00 am EST
RSVP👉 www.gmfus.org/event/hungar...
@gmfus.bsky.social @engagingce.bsky.social
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
The scope for rent-extraction by the Trump administration in this agreement is staggering. Lots of joint funds, even a mandate for the U.S. to capture 50% of the profits from reconstruction (what does that even mean)... and also the U.S. will receive "compensation" for security guarantees?
The full leaked text of the proposed US-Russia agreement on Ukraine (translated from Russian):
November 21, 2025 at 8:06 AM
The scope for rent-extraction by the Trump administration in this agreement is staggering. Lots of joint funds, even a mandate for the U.S. to capture 50% of the profits from reconstruction (what does that even mean)... and also the U.S. will receive "compensation" for security guarantees?
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
Is EU member #Croatia tilting toward the far right? Bosnian Genocide researcher Georgio Konstandi examines the patterns: a concert featuring fascist-era call-and-response and political meddling in neighboring #Bosnia:
www.justsecurity.org/125043/croat...
www.justsecurity.org/125043/croat...
Is Croatia Normalizing the Far Right in the Western Balkans?
The Croatian government appears to embrace far-right actions at home while undermining neighboring Bosnia's sovereignty and democracy.
www.justsecurity.org
November 20, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Is EU member #Croatia tilting toward the far right? Bosnian Genocide researcher Georgio Konstandi examines the patterns: a concert featuring fascist-era call-and-response and political meddling in neighboring #Bosnia:
www.justsecurity.org/125043/croat...
www.justsecurity.org/125043/croat...
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
By tomorrow, @rferl.org.web.brid.gy will cease its 🇭🇺 operations. After returning in 2020 amid Hungary’s deepening autocratization, it is now withdrawing again — another move by the Trump administration shoring up Orbán at a moment of rising domestic pressure, a clear sign of illiberal solidarity.
November 20, 2025 at 11:19 PM
By tomorrow, @rferl.org.web.brid.gy will cease its 🇭🇺 operations. After returning in 2020 amid Hungary’s deepening autocratization, it is now withdrawing again — another move by the Trump administration shoring up Orbán at a moment of rising domestic pressure, a clear sign of illiberal solidarity.
Reposted by Nicolas Bouchet
🇬🇪 Georgia: Day 358 of nonstop protests. Citizens continue to face daily illegal detentions for simply standing on Rustaveli Avenue. Yesterday, on the one-year anniversary of the arrest of the regime’s prisoner Mate Devidze, police arrested more than ten demonstrators. Video: @publikage.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 9:56 PM
🇬🇪 Georgia: Day 358 of nonstop protests. Citizens continue to face daily illegal detentions for simply standing on Rustaveli Avenue. Yesterday, on the one-year anniversary of the arrest of the regime’s prisoner Mate Devidze, police arrested more than ten demonstrators. Video: @publikage.bsky.social
Happy "Let's Keep Using X" to all those who celebrate.
French authorities are taking X to court because Grok is now doing straight up holocaust denial. Gas chambers intended for disinfection, cyanide residue tiny, ‘story’ persists because of taboo against critical examination. (Full translation in alt text)
November 20, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Happy "Let's Keep Using X" to all those who celebrate.