Mélissa Cornet
@melissacrt.bsky.social
Researcher and writer on human rights, and always doodling.
Latest on repression in Georgia: https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/august/in-tbilisi
Now reading: The Kindly Ones, Jonathan Littell
Latest on repression in Georgia: https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/august/in-tbilisi
Now reading: The Kindly Ones, Jonathan Littell
Our talk for the VII Foundation on our reportage about Afghan women's lives under the Taliban is now on their new Youtube channel. To (re-)watch it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj3V...
@theviifoundation.bsky.social
@theviifoundation.bsky.social
Documenting Women’s Rights in Afghanistan, with Kiana Hayeri and Mélissa Cornet
YouTube video by The VII Foundation
youtube.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Our talk for the VII Foundation on our reportage about Afghan women's lives under the Taliban is now on their new Youtube channel. To (re-)watch it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj3V...
@theviifoundation.bsky.social
@theviifoundation.bsky.social
“Because a void has opened up,” he wrote in Kometa in late 2023. “Because I loved Russia and, however shocking it may be to say this about an entire people, one can still love some Russians, but one can no longer love Russia.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/w...
A Celebrated French Writer Loved Russia. War Forced a Reckoning.
www.nytimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:52 AM
“Because a void has opened up,” he wrote in Kometa in late 2023. “Because I loved Russia and, however shocking it may be to say this about an entire people, one can still love some Russians, but one can no longer love Russia.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/w...
"Donors are trapped between their desire to prevent instability and their refusal to condone Taliban rule." the crux of this important work of analysis by @crisisgroup.org
www.crisisgroup.org/asia-pacific...
www.crisisgroup.org/asia-pacific...
After the Aid Axe: Charting a Path to Self-reliance in Afghanistan | International Crisis Group
Since the Afghan Taliban retook power in 2021, the West has employed economic coercion to try inducing change in the regime’s policies. Now donors are slashing humanitarian assistance, which could pus...
www.crisisgroup.org
October 7, 2025 at 1:24 PM
"Donors are trapped between their desire to prevent instability and their refusal to condone Taliban rule." the crux of this important work of analysis by @crisisgroup.org
www.crisisgroup.org/asia-pacific...
www.crisisgroup.org/asia-pacific...
"an hourlong bombardment of the notorious Evin prison, killed 80 people including prisoners, social workers and children. Israeli officials justified the attack as a blow against “oppression.” HRW and Amnesty International called it a likely war crime."
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/06/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/06/w...
Thrust Into the Line of Fire, Iranians Worry About What Comes Next
www.nytimes.com
September 7, 2025 at 11:39 AM
"an hourlong bombardment of the notorious Evin prison, killed 80 people including prisoners, social workers and children. Israeli officials justified the attack as a blow against “oppression.” HRW and Amnesty International called it a likely war crime."
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/06/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/06/w...
How Georgia Went From the Vanguard of Democracy to the Front Lines of Autocracy --
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/m...
How Georgia Went From the Vanguard of Democracy to the Front Lines of Autocracy
www.nytimes.com
August 22, 2025 at 6:13 PM
How Georgia Went From the Vanguard of Democracy to the Front Lines of Autocracy --
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/m...
Reposted by Mélissa Cornet
‘After the election commission handed the party its fourth mandate, protesters took to the streets. The authorities responded at first with tear gas and mass detentions, before shifting to cleaner tactics.’
@melissacrt.bsky.social in Georgia, on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/au...
@melissacrt.bsky.social in Georgia, on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/au...
Mélissa Cornet | In Tbilisi
Since the disputed elections of October 2024, protesters have gathered daily in front of the Georgian parliament...
www.lrb.co.uk
August 18, 2025 at 7:10 PM
‘After the election commission handed the party its fourth mandate, protesters took to the streets. The authorities responded at first with tear gas and mass detentions, before shifting to cleaner tactics.’
@melissacrt.bsky.social in Georgia, on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/au...
@melissacrt.bsky.social in Georgia, on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/au...
Reposted by Mélissa Cornet
‘The streets of Tbilisi are lined with new cameras. It’s unclear how the algorithm would differentiate between a protester and a passerby: I’ve taken up using side streets to avoid them.’
@melissacrt.bsky.social in Georgia, on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/au...
@melissacrt.bsky.social in Georgia, on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/au...
Mélissa Cornet | In Tbilisi
Since the disputed elections of October 2024, protesters have gathered daily in front of the Georgian parliament...
www.lrb.co.uk
August 15, 2025 at 5:10 PM
‘The streets of Tbilisi are lined with new cameras. It’s unclear how the algorithm would differentiate between a protester and a passerby: I’ve taken up using side streets to avoid them.’
@melissacrt.bsky.social in Georgia, on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/au...
@melissacrt.bsky.social in Georgia, on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/au...
Reposted by Mélissa Cornet
‘After the election commission handed the party its fourth mandate, protesters took to the streets. The authorities responded at first with tear gas and mass detentions, before shifting to cleaner tactics.’
@melissacrt.bsky.social in Georgia, on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/au...
@melissacrt.bsky.social in Georgia, on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/au...
Mélissa Cornet | In Tbilisi
Since the disputed elections of October 2024, protesters have gathered daily in front of the Georgian parliament...
www.lrb.co.uk
August 15, 2025 at 11:20 AM
‘After the election commission handed the party its fourth mandate, protesters took to the streets. The authorities responded at first with tear gas and mass detentions, before shifting to cleaner tactics.’
@melissacrt.bsky.social in Georgia, on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/au...
@melissacrt.bsky.social in Georgia, on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/au...
Reposted by Mélissa Cornet
'it just eats me alive.’
@melissacrt.bsky.social in Tbilisi for @lrb.co.uk
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/au...
'it just eats me alive.’
@melissacrt.bsky.social in Tbilisi for @lrb.co.uk
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/au...
Mélissa Cornet | In Tbilisi
Since the disputed elections of October 2024, protesters have gathered daily in front of the Georgian parliament...
www.lrb.co.uk
August 15, 2025 at 8:08 AM
'it just eats me alive.’
@melissacrt.bsky.social in Tbilisi for @lrb.co.uk
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/au...
'it just eats me alive.’
@melissacrt.bsky.social in Tbilisi for @lrb.co.uk
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/au...
Beijing and Harbin, July 2025
August 9, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Beijing and Harbin, July 2025
SIGAR's final report is out, concluding that the U.S. mission in Afghanistan failed to achieve its core goal of creating a free, stable, and democratic state, despite over $2 trillion in spending and the loss of 2,459 American lives.
www.sigar.mil/Portals/147/...
www.sigar.mil/Portals/147/...
www.sigar.mil
August 5, 2025 at 6:28 AM
SIGAR's final report is out, concluding that the U.S. mission in Afghanistan failed to achieve its core goal of creating a free, stable, and democratic state, despite over $2 trillion in spending and the loss of 2,459 American lives.
www.sigar.mil/Portals/147/...
www.sigar.mil/Portals/147/...
Ukraine sketchbook from my last trip there, earlier this year
July 24, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Ukraine sketchbook from my last trip there, earlier this year
Reposted by Mélissa Cornet
Joint statement on Gaza from AFP, AP, BBC News and Reuters
July 24, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Joint statement on Gaza from AFP, AP, BBC News and Reuters
Reposted by Mélissa Cornet
Last night in Kyiv was hell, explosions lasted several hours.
Many times, it felt like this would be our last moments as drones came very close.
Fires broke out across the city. Right now we can't go outside, it is unbreathable, the air is filled with smoke & particles.
📸 Ukraine emergency services
Many times, it felt like this would be our last moments as drones came very close.
Fires broke out across the city. Right now we can't go outside, it is unbreathable, the air is filled with smoke & particles.
📸 Ukraine emergency services
July 4, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Last night in Kyiv was hell, explosions lasted several hours.
Many times, it felt like this would be our last moments as drones came very close.
Fires broke out across the city. Right now we can't go outside, it is unbreathable, the air is filled with smoke & particles.
📸 Ukraine emergency services
Many times, it felt like this would be our last moments as drones came very close.
Fires broke out across the city. Right now we can't go outside, it is unbreathable, the air is filled with smoke & particles.
📸 Ukraine emergency services
I'll be in Sarajevo next week at the wonderful WARM festival to present our project No Woman's Land.
More info on the program: warmfoundation.org/festival/
I'll also be at the Festival des Libertés in October in Brussels: www.festivaldeslibertes.be/2025/fase6?e...
More info on the program: warmfoundation.org/festival/
I'll also be at the Festival des Libertés in October in Brussels: www.festivaldeslibertes.be/2025/fase6?e...
Festival - warmfoundation.org
FESTIVAL Jul 10 2023 WARM Festival 2023 Sarajevo, 10-15 July Jul 4 2022 WARM Festival 2022 Sarajevo, 4-10 July Jul 5 2021 WARM Festival 2021 Sarajevo, 5-10 July Jul 10 2019 WARM Festival 2019 Sarajevo...
warmfoundation.org
July 1, 2025 at 1:36 PM
I'll be in Sarajevo next week at the wonderful WARM festival to present our project No Woman's Land.
More info on the program: warmfoundation.org/festival/
I'll also be at the Festival des Libertés in October in Brussels: www.festivaldeslibertes.be/2025/fase6?e...
More info on the program: warmfoundation.org/festival/
I'll also be at the Festival des Libertés in October in Brussels: www.festivaldeslibertes.be/2025/fase6?e...
Reposted by Mélissa Cornet
Among many other things this is a proliferation nightmare. The lesson learned will be never negotiate with the United States.
June 22, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Among many other things this is a proliferation nightmare. The lesson learned will be never negotiate with the United States.
Reposted by Mélissa Cornet
The feminist case for treating women’s bodies as instruments for other people’s agendas.
Am I the only one appalled by this?
The Feminist Case for Spending Billions to Boost the Birthrate
www.nytimes.com
June 20, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The feminist case for treating women’s bodies as instruments for other people’s agendas.
This is a great piece: (can share PDF)
Alleging Israel has committed ‘war crimes’ suggests a recognizable event: that there is a war happening, and there are some crimes in it. Gaza is different.
For our latest cover story, Suzy Hansen examines how the war in Gaza has upended decades of humanitarian law: nymag.com/intelligence...
For our latest cover story, Suzy Hansen examines how the war in Gaza has upended decades of humanitarian law: nymag.com/intelligence...
June 19, 2025 at 2:09 PM
This is a great piece: (can share PDF)
Our project No Woman's Land, documenting Afghan women's lives under the Taliban, and published in the @theguardian.com, won an @amnesty.org International Media Award !
To read the piece: www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
@amnestyuk.bsky.social press release: www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...
To read the piece: www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
@amnestyuk.bsky.social press release: www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...
How the Taliban are erasing Afghanistan’s women – photo essay
The journalist Mélissa Cornet and the photographer Kiana Hayeri met more than 100 Afghan girls and women in seven provinces, and found resistance and defiance but also despair
www.theguardian.com
June 6, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Our project No Woman's Land, documenting Afghan women's lives under the Taliban, and published in the @theguardian.com, won an @amnesty.org International Media Award !
To read the piece: www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
@amnestyuk.bsky.social press release: www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...
To read the piece: www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
@amnestyuk.bsky.social press release: www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...
Our project No Woman’s Land, documenting the lives of Afghan women under the Taliban, won a World Press Photo!
May 17, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Our project No Woman’s Land, documenting the lives of Afghan women under the Taliban, won a World Press Photo!
I wrote a behind-the-scenes account of how Kiana and I made our project No Woman's Land happen, interviewing 100+ women in Afghanistan in 2024.
Read it on the VII Foundation website: dispatchesviifoundation.substack.com/p/no-womans-...
Read it on the VII Foundation website: dispatchesviifoundation.substack.com/p/no-womans-...
April 1, 2025 at 12:18 PM
I wrote a behind-the-scenes account of how Kiana and I made our project No Woman's Land happen, interviewing 100+ women in Afghanistan in 2024.
Read it on the VII Foundation website: dispatchesviifoundation.substack.com/p/no-womans-...
Read it on the VII Foundation website: dispatchesviifoundation.substack.com/p/no-womans-...
The making of a photobook: after three intense days of editing, No Woman’s Land will soon exist on paper. More info + Kickstarter + website coming on 8 March!
We’re very keen to make the project accessible and educational, for schools to use, so a cheap version will come too (and the free website)
We’re very keen to make the project accessible and educational, for schools to use, so a cheap version will come too (and the free website)
February 24, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The making of a photobook: after three intense days of editing, No Woman’s Land will soon exist on paper. More info + Kickstarter + website coming on 8 March!
We’re very keen to make the project accessible and educational, for schools to use, so a cheap version will come too (and the free website)
We’re very keen to make the project accessible and educational, for schools to use, so a cheap version will come too (and the free website)
The recording of our talk on Documenting Women’s Rights in Afghanistan, for the VII Foundation, is now available on their website. In it, we deep dive behind the scenes on working as a duo, ethics, informed consent, security, and more.
To watch it: theviifoundation.org/resource/doc...
To watch it: theviifoundation.org/resource/doc...
Documenting Women’s Rights in Afghanistan, with Kiana Hayeri and Mélissa Cornet
Join us for a talk with journalist Mélissa Cornet and photographer Kiana Hayeri, on their stories covering women's rights in Afghanistan.
theviifoundation.org
February 14, 2025 at 9:07 PM
The recording of our talk on Documenting Women’s Rights in Afghanistan, for the VII Foundation, is now available on their website. In it, we deep dive behind the scenes on working as a duo, ethics, informed consent, security, and more.
To watch it: theviifoundation.org/resource/doc...
To watch it: theviifoundation.org/resource/doc...
Les photos de notre projet No Woman’s Land sont en couverture de @lemonde.fr — beau travail que de réussir à parler des droits des femmes afghanes
January 30, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Les photos de notre projet No Woman’s Land sont en couverture de @lemonde.fr — beau travail que de réussir à parler des droits des femmes afghanes