Yesterday, on October 26, 2018 168.am website published an article titled “Armenia is ready to concede territories in exchange of the status of Artsakh. Armtimes.com “. The article was posted on the “Armenian Times” website (armtimes.com) two years ago, on October 25, 2016.
The 168.am put the publishing date of the article by the AT (The Armenian Times) only at the bottom of the article. Moreover, in the title of the article, 168.am has mentioned not the author of the quote – Martirosyan, but the Armenian Times website: armtimes.com. The impression is that the AT is the author of this view, not the political scientist. The 168.am did not mention the name of the journalist on the website, who conducted the interview.
Martirosyan called it a “regular manipulation”. “It’s obviously a fraudulent campaign, using a two-year-old material. Those who read only the title and do not see the date will definitely be misled,” wrote the political scientist on his Facebook page. Martirosyan expressed this view on the former authorities, while 168.am presented the article as a new one, and consequently attributed it to the current authorities.
The “Armenian Times” in its turn, referring to this publication, also described it as “manipulation”. The Facebook page of the newspaper has circulated the following statement:
“Today, a number of websites, which are apparently linked to the former authorities, actively spread it as a new article and try to make ugly manipulations among the citizens. Some readers have even given way to these manipulations, stating that the Prime Minister prepares the people for the transfer of land through the media founded by him. We urge our partners to refrain from such dishonest steps. The AT has expressed regret that the interview was published by the Chairman of the Union of Journalists, Satik Seyranyan, on 168.am, which is edited by her.
It should be reminded, that politik.am published disinformation about Martirosyan in August 2018.
Hovhannes Nazaretyan