Rob Parsons
@robkval.bsky.social
International affairs journalist - France 24 TV (anglo) chief for ed, Kanal PIK TV Georgia, RFERL Dir Georgian Service, BBC Moscow Corr. Georgian,Russian,French. Particular interest in Georgia, rest of S Caucasus, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Middle East.
Reposted by Rob Parsons
Mzia Amaghlobeli delivers her final remarks in court before the expected verdict:
“I see diplomats and international orgs here. Their presence isn’t personal support—it means we’re not alone on this path toward dictatorship. Thank you, friends of Georgia.”
📷 Batumelebi
“I see diplomats and international orgs here. Their presence isn’t personal support—it means we’re not alone on this path toward dictatorship. Thank you, friends of Georgia.”
📷 Batumelebi
August 4, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Mzia Amaghlobeli delivers her final remarks in court before the expected verdict:
“I see diplomats and international orgs here. Their presence isn’t personal support—it means we’re not alone on this path toward dictatorship. Thank you, friends of Georgia.”
📷 Batumelebi
“I see diplomats and international orgs here. Their presence isn’t personal support—it means we’re not alone on this path toward dictatorship. Thank you, friends of Georgia.”
📷 Batumelebi
If anything, Simon Tisdall (Guardian)understates the implications. "Ukraine’s collapse, if it happens, would amount to an epic western strategic failure matching or exceeding the Afghanistan and Iraq calamities." "https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/13/ukraine-europe-donald-trump-nato
What if Ukraine falls? This is no longer a hypothetical question – and it must be answered urgently | Simon Tisdall
Europe offers platitudes, Trump dithers, and Ukraine and its extraordinary people stand on the brink. Nato must step up, says Guardian foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall
www.theguardian.com
July 13, 2025 at 10:08 AM
If anything, Simon Tisdall (Guardian)understates the implications. "Ukraine’s collapse, if it happens, would amount to an epic western strategic failure matching or exceeding the Afghanistan and Iraq calamities." "https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/13/ukraine-europe-donald-trump-nato
Reposted by Rob Parsons
Nothing sadder than a tough guy who needs to remind you he's tough, right after admitting to shielding Russia.
May 27, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Nothing sadder than a tough guy who needs to remind you he's tough, right after admitting to shielding Russia.
The decision by the Kurdish PKK to disarm and dissolve after 4 decades of conflict with Turkey is a potentially huge development in ME. Watch now for response from Kurdish YPG in Syria. How will Ankara react? www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
Google Search
www.google.com
May 12, 2025 at 9:42 AM
The decision by the Kurdish PKK to disarm and dissolve after 4 decades of conflict with Turkey is a potentially huge development in ME. Watch now for response from Kurdish YPG in Syria. How will Ankara react? www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
Reposted by Rob Parsons
‼️China supports the 30-day ceasefire proposed by Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S., — Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.
www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-polyt...
www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-polyt...
May 12, 2025 at 9:21 AM
‼️China supports the 30-day ceasefire proposed by Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S., — Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.
www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-polyt...
www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-polyt...
Reposted by Rob Parsons
"Madloba! Madloba!"
Georgians chanting 'thank you' as we approach the US Embassy for today's march, expressing gratitude for unwavering support from our ally through the MEGOBARI act.
Day 165 of daily #GeorgiaProtests
Georgians chanting 'thank you' as we approach the US Embassy for today's march, expressing gratitude for unwavering support from our ally through the MEGOBARI act.
Day 165 of daily #GeorgiaProtests
May 11, 2025 at 2:22 PM
"Madloba! Madloba!"
Georgians chanting 'thank you' as we approach the US Embassy for today's march, expressing gratitude for unwavering support from our ally through the MEGOBARI act.
Day 165 of daily #GeorgiaProtests
Georgians chanting 'thank you' as we approach the US Embassy for today's march, expressing gratitude for unwavering support from our ally through the MEGOBARI act.
Day 165 of daily #GeorgiaProtests
Reposted by Rob Parsons
Do Ukrainians want the war to stop? Of course they do — this is obvious.
However, how it’s stopped is important — Tori explains
However, how it’s stopped is important — Tori explains
May 11, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Do Ukrainians want the war to stop? Of course they do — this is obvious.
However, how it’s stopped is important — Tori explains
However, how it’s stopped is important — Tori explains
It's not true that The Grapes of Wrath is banned in America. It was banned in Kern County, California and a handful of towns across the country
It's a fantastic book - download it - buy it - or just borrow it and read it. The Dust Bowl Triolgy are worth the effort.
May 12, 2025 at 9:21 AM
It's not true that The Grapes of Wrath is banned in America. It was banned in Kern County, California and a handful of towns across the country
Reposted by Rob Parsons
On this day three years ago, Ukrainian troops entered the Kyiv suburb of Bucha after a month of Russian occupation and discovered evidence of widespread atrocities against civilians.
"The guilt for this will lie on our children and grandchildren," journalist Yevgenia Albats wrote at the time.
"The guilt for this will lie on our children and grandchildren," journalist Yevgenia Albats wrote at the time.
The Stain of Bucha Will Stay With Russians Forever - The Moscow Times
Opinion |
www.themoscowtimes.com
March 31, 2025 at 10:04 AM
On this day three years ago, Ukrainian troops entered the Kyiv suburb of Bucha after a month of Russian occupation and discovered evidence of widespread atrocities against civilians.
"The guilt for this will lie on our children and grandchildren," journalist Yevgenia Albats wrote at the time.
"The guilt for this will lie on our children and grandchildren," journalist Yevgenia Albats wrote at the time.
Reposted by Rob Parsons
At this very moment, it’s getting a little tense in Tbilisi - for the first time in months.
Protesters are numerous, angry, and fed up.
ALL EYES ON GEORGIA!
#GeorgiaProtests
Protesters are numerous, angry, and fed up.
ALL EYES ON GEORGIA!
#GeorgiaProtests
March 31, 2025 at 7:14 PM
At this very moment, it’s getting a little tense in Tbilisi - for the first time in months.
Protesters are numerous, angry, and fed up.
ALL EYES ON GEORGIA!
#GeorgiaProtests
Protesters are numerous, angry, and fed up.
ALL EYES ON GEORGIA!
#GeorgiaProtests
Sadly, Nathalie Tocci is right: as Vance & Hegseth made clear on the group chat, they think that attacking the Houthis might benefit Europeans - reason in other words to question any attack, regardless of possible benefit to the US!
Trump’s US doesn’t just think Europe is obsolete – it wants to see it dead | Nathalie Tocci
Whether it is by declaring a trade war or by bullying Greenland, visceral hatred is driving American policy, says Guardian Europe columnist Nathalie Tocci
www.theguardian.com
March 31, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Sadly, Nathalie Tocci is right: as Vance & Hegseth made clear on the group chat, they think that attacking the Houthis might benefit Europeans - reason in other words to question any attack, regardless of possible benefit to the US!
This is just awful. It is so sad that Georgia has come to this.
1/ "This practice of forced stripping is a shameless Russian method of violating human dignity and committing physical violence against detainees," the @DroaParty leader wrote.
March 29, 2025 at 3:20 PM
This is just awful. It is so sad that Georgia has come to this.
Reposted by Rob Parsons
BREAKING: Opposition leader Elene Khoshtaria was subjected to physical abuse, degrading treatment and torture after her detention, which is prohibited under the ECHR, Article 3 (prohibition of torture), and which reflects the systemic violence against the unlawfully imprisoned protesters in 🇬🇪. 1/
March 29, 2025 at 11:52 AM
BREAKING: Opposition leader Elene Khoshtaria was subjected to physical abuse, degrading treatment and torture after her detention, which is prohibited under the ECHR, Article 3 (prohibition of torture), and which reflects the systemic violence against the unlawfully imprisoned protesters in 🇬🇪. 1/
Germany is waking up - No longer clueless open.substack.com/pub/johnkamp...
No longer clueless
Yet why do so many Germans seem determined to see their new government fail?
open.substack.com
March 28, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Germany is waking up - No longer clueless open.substack.com/pub/johnkamp...
Reposted by Rob Parsons
An absolutely disgraceful attack on an ally, doubly uncouth that it’s made from their territory. “Our message to Denmark is simple, you have not done a good job for the people of Greenland. This is why Trump’s policy is what it is.” www.thetimes.com/us/american-...
Military force won’t be necessary, Vance says on Greenland visit
The vice-president, travelling with his wife, Usha, said he believed Greenlanders would choose to become independent of Denmark
www.thetimes.com
March 28, 2025 at 9:26 PM
An absolutely disgraceful attack on an ally, doubly uncouth that it’s made from their territory. “Our message to Denmark is simple, you have not done a good job for the people of Greenland. This is why Trump’s policy is what it is.” www.thetimes.com/us/american-...
Reposted by Rob Parsons
We must protect our European heritage… from the Europeans
I think the Atlantic piece is probably the scoopiest scoop of the last few decades. And it has clarified one thing - other than the total idiocy of sending opsec over group chats - Hegseth and Vance have a genuine animosity towards Europe. Something for us all to ponder.
March 24, 2025 at 5:49 PM
We must protect our European heritage… from the Europeans
If true, this is extraordinary - even now, weeks into this US administration. The US Sec of Defence is alleged to have discussed the planning for a U.S. attack on the Houthis in a Signal group--and inadvertently added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.
'Amateur hour': Flabbergasted experts react as Pete Hegseth shares war plans with reporter
www.rawstory.com/pete-hegseth...
www.rawstory.com/pete-hegseth...
'Amateur hour': Flabbergasted experts react as Pete Hegseth shares war plans with reporter
A bombshell report in The Atlantic revealed that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared classified information in a Signal chat that included a reporter among its membership. It's something that off...
www.rawstory.com
March 24, 2025 at 6:03 PM
If true, this is extraordinary - even now, weeks into this US administration. The US Sec of Defence is alleged to have discussed the planning for a U.S. attack on the Houthis in a Signal group--and inadvertently added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.
Reposted by Rob Parsons
🇺🇸🇪🇺🌎The transatlantic alliance faces an uncomfortable truth: the instability in U.S. politics isn't just about Trump. It’s about the deeper flaws in American democracy itself—flaws that make the U.S. an unreliable pillar of Western security.
🧵A security thread.
1/10
🧵A security thread.
1/10
March 4, 2025 at 9:27 PM
🇺🇸🇪🇺🌎The transatlantic alliance faces an uncomfortable truth: the instability in U.S. politics isn't just about Trump. It’s about the deeper flaws in American democracy itself—flaws that make the U.S. an unreliable pillar of Western security.
🧵A security thread.
1/10
🧵A security thread.
1/10
How can Ukraine trust Witkoff when he says of the 2014 referendums in Donbas:"There have been referendums where the overwhelming majority of the people have indicated that they want to be under Russian rule." I witnessed those referendums-they were a farce. This is straight Russian propaganda.
March 22, 2025 at 7:07 PM
How can Ukraine trust Witkoff when he says of the 2014 referendums in Donbas:"There have been referendums where the overwhelming majority of the people have indicated that they want to be under Russian rule." I witnessed those referendums-they were a farce. This is straight Russian propaganda.
Reposted by Rob Parsons
Turkey police detain Istanbul mayor, Erdogan's main rival
Turkey police detain Istanbul mayor, Erdogan's main rival
Turkish police raided the home of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Wednesday, detaining him over a corruption probe in a move denounced by the main opposition CHP party as a "coup".
f24.my
March 19, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Turkey police detain Istanbul mayor, Erdogan's main rival
Reposted by Rob Parsons
Average wall in Tbilisi, Georgia, with lots of symbolism
March 13, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Average wall in Tbilisi, Georgia, with lots of symbolism
Reposted by Rob Parsons
Macron says Russia’s permission not needed to deploy troops in Ukraine
Macron says Russia’s permission not needed to deploy troops in Ukraine
French president says France, UK and others could each deploy ‘a few thousand troops’ to key locations to show Ukraine ‘long-term support’
Emmanuel Macron has said France, the UK, and other nations providing security guarantees for Ukraine after any…
www.theguardian.com
March 16, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Macron says Russia’s permission not needed to deploy troops in Ukraine
I find it risible that Russia, which crossed the biggest red line of all by invading Ukraine, continues to demand that others recognise its own red lines
November 18, 2024 at 10:35 AM
I find it risible that Russia, which crossed the biggest red line of all by invading Ukraine, continues to demand that others recognise its own red lines
Reposted by Rob Parsons
Hello NAFO Fellas
Radu Hossu is now on Bluesky. Give him a follow
Radu Hossu is now on Bluesky. Give him a follow
November 15, 2024 at 12:08 PM
Hello NAFO Fellas
Radu Hossu is now on Bluesky. Give him a follow
Radu Hossu is now on Bluesky. Give him a follow