BBC journalist. Documentary producer 'TraumaZone', 'Anatomy of a Fake Collection'. Fulbrighter.
London, England
Joined August 2013
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Adam Curtis, Sandra Gorel, Rose Garnett and Grigor Atanesian are awarded the BAFTA for Specialist Factual for their work on Russia 1985-1999: Traumazone 👏
#BAFTATVAwards with @pandocruises
ALT Alt text: Designed graphic featuring an image from Russia 1985-1999:Traumazone. The text reads 'Specialist Factual, Rushia 1985-1999: Traumazone, Adam Curtis, Sandra Gorel, Rose Garnett, Grigor Atanesian'
Grigor Atanesian retweeted
My two cents in @atanessi’s BBC Russian article on the Putin–Pashinyan meeting.
Tigran Grigoryan’s comment for BBC Russian.
Following the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan in Bishkek, the Russian president demanded that Armenia choose between the EU and the EAEU and hold a corresponding referendum.
In a comment to BBC Russian, Tigran Grigoryan, Director of the Regional Center for Democracy and Security, notes that behind Moscow’s current rhetoric lies not so much the issue of Armenia’s European integration as an effort to preserve Russia’s structural presence in the country — including existing and potential Russian assets and control over strategic infrastructure:
“Putin stated that by adopting the law on EU membership, Armenia had effectively begun the process of leaving the EAEU. This sounds paradoxical, because the law was adopted a year earlier, yet we did not see any such reaction from them at the time. The fact that they are only now speaking about this law in these terms suggests that the issue is not so much related to the EU as it is to Russia’s structural presence.”
Grigoryan considers Moscow’s demand for a referendum to be primarily a propagandistic move. He argues that it is part of the Kremlin’s rhetoric that it values its relationship specifically with the Armenian people, rather than with governments that come and go.
Read the full BBC Russian article 👇
bbc.com/russian/articles/cy5…
Grigor Atanesian retweeted
Armenia won't stand in the way of Russians fleeing to the country if a new mobilization begins, the secretary of its Security Council said: “No one at the border is going to ask anyone why they came here,” and no travel passport is needed to enter. meduza.io/en/news/2026/08/25…
Grigor Atanesian retweeted
I remember attampting to translate the labguage he would use in Eurasianet often and its safe to say that it simply doesn't translate. It's impossible.
This -- without understanding Armenian one can't feel just how obscene the Prime Minister's language is. Not just his threats against the opposition who can be thuggsh themselves. But against ordinary citizens too who dare argue with him
Grigor Atanesian retweeted
Dolly Parton rose from poverty to stardom. She gave $500 to every student in her hometown who finished high school, she built hospitals and bald eagle preserves; her Imagination Library has gifted 300 million books to children. Roger Ebert once met her and came away thinking she was a literal angel. RIP.
When people on the streets made Pashinyan prime minister in 2018, they demanded an anti-corruption crackdown — specifically arrests of the two former presidents. But now many will see this probe as politically motivated; perhaps even more won’t care, being utterly disIllusioned.
Armenia’s former President Robert Kocharyan, his son, Sedrak Kocharyan, along with four others, were arrested early Tuesday morning on corruption charges. The authorities have accused Kocharyan of accepting bribes and of abusing his power as president to seize properties at a fraction of their market value.
oc-media.org/armenias-former…
Grigor Atanesian retweeted
Tim Snyder and Alexander Dugin are customarily considered antipodes. But are they really? Marlène Laruelle offers a unique interpretation of their analytical sameness: theideasletter.org/essay/in-…
This must be the most open state intervention in religious affairs in Eastern Europe since 1991. It reminds of political control the USSR and its satellites exercised over national churches azatutyun.am/a/33835043.html
Grigor Atanesian retweeted
Daron Acemoglu blasts The Economist over their bizarre critique of him: “Your central verdict that I am 'oddly unconvincing' rests on unnamed economists revealing their true opinion of me over a few drinks. No persons who have been offered drinks to get to this truth are named. Would you publish a letter asserting that, over a few drinks, most people tell me that your newspaper is no longer worth subscribing to? The only person quoted with such views is a blogger, Noah Smith, a thin basis for judging a lifetime of academic work [...] If this is the best you can do with a body of work spanning 33 years, then it is your critique that is 'oddly unconvincing.'”
Grigor Atanesian retweeted
A fraudulent election which laid the groundwork for all “political technologies” to come.
30 years ago, Russians went to the polls not knowing who would win.
Check out my interview with @KyivIndependent about that election, how Boris Yeltsin triumphed, and when I first started to worry about the direction Russia was heading.
youtu.be/t3WYzR3Ksi8?si=Ex_g…
"To love your country sometimes means to oppose the state," said Lev Shlosberg, a Russian oppositionist who stayed in the country despite being beaten up, demonised by the state, banned from politics and now an 11-year prison sentence. Story by @barabanch bbc.com/russian/articles/cy8…
"We will be glad if Serbia’s path toward EU membership accelerates"
During our meetings with President of Serbia @avucic – today and yesterday – we discussed specific things that can strengthen our infrastructure, including ports and railways in both countries, as well as economic development, reconstruction, and job creation in Ukraine and Serbia. We are working to have everything ready by the end of this year to conclude an agreement on a free trade area.
We separately discussed the challenges of the coming winter, when, because of Russian strikes, virtually no thermal power plants in Ukraine remain intact and the enemy is intent on making people’s lives unbearable. Whatever happens, people must be given every opportunity to live, so our energy cooperation is of great significance. I thank Mr. President for the constructive dialogue and for a new package of humanitarian support for Ukraine, particularly in the areas of healthcare and energy.
We also discussed relations with the European Union. We will be glad if Serbia’s path toward EU membership accelerates. It is important that every nation in Europe receives a clear signal that Europe needs it and that no one can be lost.
Truly a forgotten masterpiece. Borrows from Dostoevsky somewhat, but so much more imaginative -- and so much more fun
Prosecuting the head of the Armenian Church was always going to backfire for the government, energising the faithful regardless of the Catholicos's reputation, which is far from stellar. The judge recusing himself makes the case all the more intriguing azatutyun.am/a/33824286.html
A very timely book indeed
Are you feeling that something’s off with America but can’t put it into words? Our book will help you name the tell-tale signs of tyranny — and resist them. By myself and @maria_de_forest, published by @LiverightPub, How To Survive Authoritarianism is ready to pre-order. 👇
Grigor Atanesian retweeted
Are you feeling that something’s off with America but can’t put it into words? Our book will help you name the tell-tale signs of tyranny — and resist them. By myself and @maria_de_forest, published by @LiverightPub, How To Survive Authoritarianism is ready to pre-order. 👇