Famous Azeris with Armenian friends on Facebook
I’ve long been using Facebook as a way to connect and stay in contact with friends and colleagues in Azerbaijan, especially when traditional forms of communication are blocked because of the still unresolved conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. So, when an article appeared today on Qaynar.Info listing prominent Azerbaijanis with Facebook friends in Armenia, others naturally assumed the worst.
A recent survey by the Caucasus Resource Research Centers (CRRC), for example, found that 97 percent of Azerbaijanis were against friendship with Armenians. Here, 70 percent of Armenians were against friendship with Azerbaijanis. Now, having asked a friend from Azerbaijan to translate the article for me, I’m not entirely sure what this article was hoping to achieve. For the most part it is actually quite neutral, in fact.
However, as I’m told the media outlet appears to be pro-governmental and those Azerbaijanis mentioned are alternative and marginalized journalists, bloggers and activists, it could actually be a subtle attempt to cast a shadow on their names when having links with the ‘enemy’ is the modus operandi to attack critical voices in both countries. It is also not the first time that ‘warnings’ about Azerbaijanis making contact with Armenians via Facebook have appeared.
Of course, if that is the case, hopefully the intention will backfire and instead show again that communication and connection online is possible. For now, though, the reaction from friends in Azerbaijan seems to suggest that the purpose of the article is intended to ‘expose’ those with Armenian connections. Regardless, thanks to Leyla Najafli for her translation below. One of the best tweeps I know on Twitter, she can be followed at @leylanajafli.
In fact, I owe her a beer or two when next we meet…
Famous Azeris with Armenian friends on Facebook
There are plenty.
It is no secret that a number of social networks, in particular “Facebook”, act as the force behind the processes taking place in the world today. “Facebook”, which has turned into an everyday necessity for millions, knows no borders in certain aspects. To the degree that representatives of two enemy nations and countries become friends on the site, in spite of everything.
Qaynar.info has tried to find famous Azeris with Armenian friends on Facebook. Though many of them make their friends list private, after a brief investigation it has become clear that tens of well-known Azeris are virtual friends with famous Armenian users.
For example Mamikon Hovsepyan – head of Armenian organization “PINK ARMENIA” – has vice-chairman of APFP Razi Nurullayev, blogger Adnan Hajizada, famous lawyer Intigam Aliyev and director of Women’s Crisis Center Metanet Azizova in his friends list.
Among the Azeris on famous Armenian director Georgi Vanyan’s friends list are deputy and famous political scientist Rasim Musabeyov, famous TV presenter Ilhamiyya Rzayeva, RFE/RL Azerbaijani service’s famous presenter Khadija Ismayil, director of “Qanun” (“Law”) publishing house Shahbaz Khuduoghlu, head of Humanitarian Research Center Avaz Hasanov, vice-chairman of APFP Razi Nurullayev, head of Dalgha Youth Movement Orkhan Nabiyev and others.
Famous columnist Seymur Bayjan has plenty of Armenian friends, but the profile of Armenia’s opposition leader Levon Ter Petrosyan stands out among them.
Our investigation has shown that out of the well-known Azeris, the one with most Armenian friends on Facebook is legal advocate and head of Humanitarian Research Center Avaz Hasanov. Among his Armenian friends are Annie Frida Martirosyan who works at Internews Network; Aghasi Yenokyan of RFE/RL Armenian service, Andranik Ozanian, and tens of other Armenians.
The original article in Azerbaijani is here.
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