By Palestinian poet Najwan Darwish.

Autumn in Tartu 💛 #Estonia

Both Eto and Sopho have done amazing, unique work researching disinformation and sharing their skills with many, including me – I was lucky to have them as trainers at DFRLab - @dfrlab.bsky.social. The purge against civil society in Georgia is now reaching those at the international level.

It is one thing for UN Secretary-General @AntonioGuterres to meet with brutal dictators like Belarus President Lukashenko, but does he have to hug them? What a horrible signal of acceptance. ukranews.com/en/news/104332…

Initial reports about explosions in Tehran

If this is a ‘limited’ response, the targets are likely IRGC Aerospace Force facilities and sites related to missile production or other military sites

One key concern I have about the elections in Georgia is how much people focus on ethnic minorities voting for GD. What’s missing in these conversations is the fact that these communities have been underdeveloped & overlooked—not only by the opposition but also by civil society.

1/ My two cents on the shameful blame game against ethnic minorities in Georgia's recent elections. Yes, the GD support percentages in Javakheti is disheartening and lacks trust. But let’s take a closer look for a reality check. #GVote2024

Yesterday I successfully defended my PhD dissertation titled “Soviet and Russian Approaches to Democracy in International Law” at the University of Tartu School of Law. My deepest gratitude goes to my supervisor, Professor Lauri Mälksoo and to the opponent, Professor Angelika Nussberger .

I am happy to have organized the first Benjamin Ferencz CHL workshop in this term - the event is a pinnacle of my Konrad Adenaur Juniour fellowship at CHL Cologne, supported by Alfred Landecker Foundation. Many thanks to Sevanna Poghosyan, Dovile Budryte, Anastasiia Vorobiova, Dovile Sagatiene for the presentations.

As major geopolitical shifts are happening in front of our eyes, we need to think further what is Europe’s role in international law, and what will it be. In this sense, our edited volume with many excellent authors could not be more timely OUP Law. global.oup.com/academic/produ…

In the Review of Democracy Review of Democracy I discuss transnational authoritarian repression as a challenge for liberal democracies as well as international law. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Osteuropakunde e.V.

Yesterday, Anne van Aaken and I, with two of our volume’s authors Sevanna Poghosyan and Hent Kalmo, and moderated by University of Tartu Gregor Pihlak and patricia had a panel on ‘The Oxford Handbook of International Law in Europe’ in Tartu. Interesting to discuss when Europe is at crossroads

Today, as we reflect on the #ArmenianGenocide, we are reminded of the Aliyev regime's campaign of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. Our and our partners' fact-finding report detailed the breadth of these abuses and how to hold Azerbaijan accountable: freedomhouse.org/report/special…

The narrative that Russia has not come to Iran's aid is a bit simplistic. It misconstrues the nature of ties and makes certain assumptions about Russian commitments to Iran that deviate from reality. Thread:

The 2025 Russia-Iran Strategic Partnership Treaty does not include a mutual defense clause. That was deliberate. Neither side wants to be dragged into the other's wars. In fact, during negotiations, it was Iran, less so Russia, that pushed to avoid this kind of entanglement.

Democracy cannot come through war, Iranian Nobel winner tells BBC : “I witnessed horrendous attacks, they are hitting infrastructure, a lot of civilian deaths … It was one of the worst and terrifying experiences that we have had” Mohammadi said. Mohammadi says she has left

One of the best, bravest, and brightest young scholars of the Caucasus almost lost his life today. I hope, despite the madness all around, media outlets will pay attention to Bahruz Samadov’s unjust imprisonment in Azerbaijan

10 This is an unprecedented moment in Iranian history. It could entrench the regime--or hasten its demise. It could prevent a nuclear Iran--or accelerate one. Military attacks/humiliations have both strengthened dictatorships (Iran 1980) and weakened them (Argentina, Milosevic)

A groundbreaking analysis of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, featuring some of the best Armenian and Azerbaijani specialists, is forthcoming in February 2026. My chapter offers lessons from the monumental erasure in Nakhichevan. You can pre-order it now. bloomsbury.com/uk/44day-war-9…