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Reposted by Thomas de Waal

Carnegie Russia Eurasia @carnegierussia.bsky.social · 15d

How did the White House end up brokering a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan?

In a new article for @foreignaffairs.com, Senior Fellow Thomas de Waal unravels how a shared rejection of Russian dominance in the South Caucasus drove both parties down "an unlikely road to peace."

Thomas de Waal @tomdewaal.bsky.social · 16d

Just published, my piece on the U.S. Armenia-Azerbaijan deal and its prospects. There is a lot of hard work still to be done, I argue, but the shared coincidence of interests that neither country wants Russia as a guarantor has been transformative. www.foreignaffairs.com/armenia/unli...

An Unlikely Road to Peace in the South Caucasus

How common cause against Russia enabled an American deal.

www.foreignaffairs.com

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Thomas de Waal @tomdewaal.bsky.social · 16d

Just published, my piece on the U.S. Armenia-Azerbaijan deal and its prospects. There is a lot of hard work still to be done, I argue, but the shared coincidence of interests that neither country wants Russia as a guarantor has been transformative. www.foreignaffairs.com/armenia/unli...

An Unlikely Road to Peace in the South Caucasus

How common cause against Russia enabled an American deal.

www.foreignaffairs.com

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Thomas de Waal @tomdewaal.bsky.social · 22d

I was very glad of the opportunity to have a substantial conversation with @neweasterneurope.eu on the Trump deal with Armenia and Azerbaijan talkeasterneurope.eu/episodes/epi...

Episode 235: Behind the peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan

In this episode, Alexandra and Adam start off with some discussion on the news, including concerns over the upcoming Russia/Belarus Zapad 2025 militar...

talkeasterneurope.eu

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Reposted by Thomas de Waal

Martin Heidenreich @heidenreich.bsky.social · 22d

Ivanishvili has created "an illiberal and anti-European system which leaves no political space for either party opponents or civil society activists. Currently, almost all of Georgia’s major opposition party leaders are in prison. We call it a quasi-dictatorship."

Hans Gutbrod @hansgutbrod.bsky.social · 22d

Some details to quibble with but the main points are very solid -- GD has the bayonets but in the end will struggle to sit on them.

Stephen Jones & Gabriel Chubinidze on why Ivanishvili's rule may well crumble.
cacianalyst.org/publications...

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Reposted by Thomas de Waal

New Eastern Europe @neweasterneurope.eu · 23d

Check out the latest episode of Talk Eastern Europe!

Listen on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

talkeasterneurope.eu/episodes/epi...

Episode 235: Behind the peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan

In this episode, Alexandra and Adam start off with some discussion on the news, including concerns over the upcoming Russia/Belarus Zapad 2025 militar...

talkeasterneurope.eu

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Thomas de Waal @tomdewaal.bsky.social · Sep 4

On #Georgia, its rapid descent into authoritarian rule and the EU's struggle to respond. My piece today for Carnegie, with advice for Brussels: don't punish ordinary people by cancelling visa liberalization @carnegieeurope.bsky.social carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...

Time for EU Decisions on Georgia

Since last year’s election, Georgia’s ruling party has rolled back democracy and sabotaged the country’s EU accession process. To avoid penalizing pro-European citizens, the union and its member state...

carnegieendowment.org

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Reposted by Thomas de Waal

Carnegie Europe @carnegieeurope.bsky.social · Sep 4

Since last year's election, Georgia's ruling party has rolled back democracy & derailed its EU accession process.

To avoid penalizing pro-European citizens, the EU should focus punitive measures on a small group in the elite, writes @tomdewaal.bsky.social.

carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...

Time for EU Decisions on Georgia

Since last year’s election, Georgia’s ruling party has rolled back democracy and sabotaged the country’s EU accession process. To avoid penalizing pro-European citizens, the union and its member state...

carnegieendowment.org

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Thomas de Waal @tomdewaal.bsky.social · Jul 12

My article on how the Philharmonic Orchestra in #Odesa/#Odessa has played on through all the travails of wartime, and the story of its amazing American conductor, Hobart Earle, who has been with them since 1991.
In today’s FT magazine (sorry, behind a paywall). www.ft.com/content/9dc6...

How Odesa’s Philharmonic Orchestra played on through the war

A Ukrainian orchestra and their American conductor withstood Russian missiles to bring music to the city

www.ft.com

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Thomas de Waal @tomdewaal.bsky.social · Jun 23

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

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Thomas de Waal @tomdewaal.bsky.social · Jun 18

Thank you so much for these warm words!

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Thomas de Waal @tomdewaal.bsky.social · Jun 18

Here's an essay I wrote for my college magazine about how it took me 35 years to translate Mandelstam's Tristia, the joys and tribulations of poetry translation and Osip M's amazing mysterious verse, which resonates anew with every generation. heyzine.com/flip-book/fl...

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Thomas de Waal @tomdewaal.bsky.social · Jun 4

And if you haven't done so already, read Max's paper on the European gas issue carnegieendowment.org/research/202...

How Eastern Europe Overhauled Its Natural Gas Market

After Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Eastern Europe successfully ended its dependence on Russian natural gas. To ensure the region’s energy security, the EU must continue to diversify its supplies...

carnegieendowment.org

Thomas de Waal @tomdewaal.bsky.social · Jun 4

Since 2022 Central and Eastern Europe has undergone a fundamental shift away from reliance on Russian gas. Will it last? Join @maxhess.bsky.social‬, Sergey Vakulenko and me tomorrow for a Carnegie Europe webinar to discuss these issues. It will be insightful! carnegieendowment.org/events/2025/...

Securing Energy Independence: The Future of Eastern Europe’s Gas Supply

Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, nearly all of Central and Eastern Europe has cut its reliance on Moscow’s gas. While regional cooperation and expanded LNG access have helped diversify supplie...

https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2025/05/securing-energy-independence-the-future-of-eastern-europes-gas-supply?lang=en&center=europe‬

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Thomas de Waal @tomdewaal.bsky.social · May 27

www.foreignaffairs.com/azerbaijan/p... Zaur's piece on Azerbaijan is excellent, authoritative, comprehensive and asks the hard questions about the country's future @zaurshiriyev.bsky.social

The Precarious Power of Azerbaijan

A delayed peace with Armenia endangers a new regional order.

www.foreignaffairs.com

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Thomas de Waal @tomdewaal.bsky.social · May 23

This reporting has now resulted in Neal being denied re-entry into Georgia, the country has lived in since 2022. A blow not just against Neal, but against free speech and independent reporting on Georgia
rsf.org/en/between-h...

Between harassment and expulsion, Georgia is bent on silencing British journalist Will Neal

Independent British journalist Will Neal was arbitrarily denied entry into Georgia, where he has lived since 2022, upon returning from a trip to the United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU). Report...

rsf.org

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Thomas de Waal @tomdewaal.bsky.social · May 23

Please read, share and repost this brave piece of journalism by Will Neal @willneal.bsky.social‬ about Georgia and the dealings and Russia connections of London-based Hunnewell Partners which owns Imedi TV amongst other assets, is a close partner of Georgian Dream.
bylinetimes.com/2025/03/31/m...

Moscow’s Ties to the Georgian Regime Ran Through Kensington and Chelsea

Leaked documents reveal how UK firm Hunnewell Partners, controlled by alleged enablers of Georgia’s ruling oligarch, facilitated a top Putin crony’s attempts to exploit the collapse of a more than $1....

bylinetimes.com

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Reposted by Thomas de Waal

Carnegie Europe @carnegieeurope.bsky.social · May 22

As the South Caucasus undergoes a strategic realignment, the EU & Turkey have an opportunity to recalibrate their engagement.

Converging interests might foster cooperation if long-standing assumptions are set aside, writes @zaurshiriyev.bsky.social.

carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...

Why the EU Needs Turkey in the South Caucasus

As the South Caucasus undergoes a strategic realignment, the EU and Turkey have an opportunity to recalibrate their engagement. Converging interests in connectivity, stability, and regional integratio...

carnegieendowment.org

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Reposted by Thomas de Waal

Carnegie Endowment @carnegieendowment.org · May 21

💡Registration is open for the 2025 Carnegie Endowment James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Conference, The Next Generation of Foreign Policy.

📅June 11, 11am-5pm EDT, in-person. Open exclusively to students and young professionals.

Learn more and register here: carnegieendowment.org/events/2025/...

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Reposted by Thomas de Waal

Turkey recap @turkeyrecap.bsky.social · May 18

"Can Turkey and Armenia Normalize Relations?" with @tomdewaal.bsky.social ‬ and Garo Paylan via @carnegieeurope.bsky.social. [3/5]

Can Turkey and Armenia Normalize Relations? | Europe Inside Out

Rym Momtaz, Thomas de Waal, and Garo Paylan examine why the normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations remains stalled and how Europe might help revitalize the process.

europe-inside-out.simplecast.com

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Thomas de Waal @tomdewaal.bsky.social · May 15

Another biographical gem from Cavid

Cavid Ağa @cavid.info · May 14

Just wrote an article about a French naturalist, botanist, orientalist, spy, and anti-slavery advocate who was employed by the Russian Empire to introduce new cultivation techniques to Georgia and Azerbaijan.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph-...

Joseph-Elzéar Morenas - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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Reposted by Thomas de Waal

Carnegie Europe @carnegieeurope.bsky.social · May 14

🎧 | Turkey & Armenia are divided by decades of unresolved tensions & a closed border.

In a new episode of #EuropeInsideOut, @rmomtaz.bsky.social, @tomdewaal.bsky.social, & Garo Paylan discuss whether the countries can normalize relations.

To listen: europe-inside-out.simplecast.com/episodes/can...

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Thomas de Waal @tomdewaal.bsky.social · May 14

It's the move that benefits (almost) everyone but still does not happen... Who better to discuss the search for Armenia-Turkey normalization with than Garo Paylan? I enjoyed our discussion with @rmomtaz.bsky.social for the Carnegie Europe podcast europe-inside-out.simplecast.com/episodes/can...

Can Turkey and Armenia Normalize Relations? | Europe Inside Out

Rym Momtaz, Thomas de Waal, and Garo Paylan examine why the normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations remains stalled and how Europe might help revitalize the process.

europe-inside-out.simplecast.com

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Reposted by Thomas de Waal

Shaun Walker @shaunwalker7.bsky.social · Apr 30

Yesterday we published our investigation into torture & death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna.

Now, what I & several Guardian colleagues have been working on for past few months: inside one of Russia's worst torture prisons for Ukrainians

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Inside Taganrog: beatings, electrocution and starvation at prison where Ukrainians were tortured

Russia is holding an estimated 16,000 civilians in arbitrary detention at 180 separate facilities. Taganrog was the most notorious.

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Thomas de Waal

najmin kamilsoy @knecmin.bsky.social · Apr 29

Today, researcher & @charlesuni.cuni.cz PhD candidate Bahruz Samadov is spending 30th birthday behind bars in Azerbaijan, where critical scholarly work is criminalized, labeled as treason. There shld be more academic voices demanding Bahruz's freedom. #FreeBahruz

www.psapopulism.org/blog/news/fr...

Free Bahruz Samadov

International Academic Community Calls for the Release of Young Azerbaijani Scholar Bahruz Samadov

www.psapopulism.org

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Reposted by Thomas de Waal

Carnegie Endowment @carnegieendowment.org · Apr 24

President Trump’s apparent belief that Ukraine will inevitably lose its war against Russia if it doesn’t accept a peace deal may not be in line with the battlefield reality.

@alexgabuev.bsky.social and @michaelkofman.bsky.social explain for the @ceip-politika.bsky.social podcast:

Does Ukraine Need a Ceasefire at Any Cost? With Michael Kofman

Carnegie Politika is a digital publication that features unmatched analysis and insight on Russia, Ukraine and the wider region. For nearly a decade, Carnegie Politika has published contributions…

buff.ly

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