Running Scared: Levon Ter-Petrossian Campaign Gets Dirty, Nervous

ArmeniaNow has already reported on the dismissal of the editor from the pro-Ter-Petrossian Zhamanak Yerevan newspaper for not towing the campaign line, and the online publication has also noted the black propaganda directed at the former president’s critics and rivals through another pro-Ter-Petrossian newspaper, Haykakan Zhamanak.

Now, it would seem, is the turn of this blog which has raised many issues reflected in conversations with the general public as well as matters relating to the copyright of my photographs taken during the official and unofficial pre-election campaign period. Moreover, there are attempts to twist and distort the reality as illustrated by a post on Nazarian’s blog.

In that entry, Nazarian used my photographs with proper attribution, but has since removed them claiming that I demanded as such. However, I did no such thing. Instead, I simply requested that if he uses them, which he can, he should at least keep to common standards of decency and etiquette which relate to blogging and commenting. I simply warned him against later posts which would actually amount to libel.

Nazarian, you are perfectly able to use the photos seeing as you are an individual without any financing for producing this website and because you have used my photos before without me raising the issue of copyright. Moreover you are not an official campaign team so the use of them does not appear to endorse you and more than that, you put a link in to my Flickr page (I think, although I didn’t actually click the link).

All I’m saying is if you’re going to use them at least have the decency to stop people attacking me on the same page, or I would say your blog in general, but that’s up to you and an issue of general blogging etiquette and common decency.

My only threat was to report his blog to his hosting providers for allowing defamatory comments on posts using my photos if they occur in the future. Indeed, a gut reaction is to do so now he has incorrectly stated I demanded the removal of the post or the pictures despite not doing so. However, it’s perhaps best left online because it provides everyone with an interesting insight into the psyche and strategy of Ter-Petrossian’s supporters and campaign team in lieu of very little actual public support.

For example, one of Ter-Petrossian’s team, Aramazd Ghalamkaryan, continues in his attempts to discredit this blog for reflecting the reality of the pre-election campaign and even resorts to writing in Armenian in the hope of keeping me out of the conversation as I am from England and I suppose he figures I won’t be able to understand. He asks another Ter-Petrossian supporter in Armenian “how it is possible that people like Onnik come and teach us what to do, and that they think that they understand what is democracy?”

Firstly, although Ghalamkaryan needs a crash course in observing and understanding the law when it comes to copyright infringement and legislation relating to this pre-election campaign period, that is not the point. What is relevant here is that while I carry a British passport and am resident in the country, my six-year old son is an Armenian citizen. Therefore, for the sake of my son I have as much right to be concerned with democratization in Armenia as any other citizen.

Regardless, another concern with the post is that the photos taken down are improperly captioned while the actual images are replaced by grayed-out boxes in a vain and somewhat simplistic attempt to make this a matter of “censorship” and freedom of speech.” This is particularly concerning because in the first, Nazarian writes that the police kept an eye on the unsanctioned march through central Yerevan whereas they were most notable in that they were virtually absent.

In the second, Nazarian alleges that one man with a video camera who had run ahead of the procession to film them arriving at Sakharov Square is KGB despite not being there or offering a shred of evidence.

[photo of a policeman at the rally, removed at the author’s request]

The LTP supporters exiting the Liberty Square. A policeman (bottom right corner) is keeping a close eye.

[photo of a KGB operative at the rally, removed at the author’s request]
It was not only the police who kept a close eye. A KGB operative (bottom right) films the participants.

Indeed, my gut reaction is that he was either a journalist or one of Ter-Petrossian’s supporters. Certainly, Nazarian fails to respond to my request for clarification on his claims from afar. If the individual was a KGB operative then it is in the public interest to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is. Otherwise, although it was typical of the radical opposition during last year’s parliamentary election, political activists and supporters can make any claims they like without being able to back them up.

Still, one thing is clear. The black propaganda machinery behind Levon Ter-Petrossian’s campaign is as strong as ever and appears to be sinking to even lower levels. Moreover, as all of those commenting and attacking me on Nazarian’s blog are Ter-Petrossian supporters, activists and members of his official campaign team, it perhaps begs a question. Is the Ter-Petrossian campaign team running so scared that they have to resort to such dirty and dishonest tactics?

Nazarian’s post is here and like I said, such posts are welcomed because they truly illustrate the way in which Ter-Petrossian and his supporters are conducting their campaign. Of course, some of the prime minister’s supporters are no different. Indeed, with most of the population stuck in the unfortunate situation of not wanting to decide between the “lesser of two evils,” as Vazgen Manukian put it, the online campaign by both sides is now one of concern.

Still, whatever the situation between this blog and Nazarian’s, kudos to him for at least not removing my comments.