YouTube ‘epidemics’ in Armenia: new school abuse video emerged

After animal abuse, army abuse and school abuse videos that were widely distributed in Armenian online circles and subsequently reported by printed media and reacted by officials, putting evidence of irregularities on YouTube becoming increasingly THE way of exposing things in Armenia.

It’s not even a week passed since the video exposing physical and verbal abuse at one of the most prestigious schools in capital Yerevan was resulted in effective dismissal of the teacher and pledges from the Ministry of Education to “do everything possible to safeguard the rights of children”, and prevent such cases in future.

Perhaps being encouraged by its effectiveness, yesterday new video emerged showing teacher’s physical abuse towards pupils (YouTube link). I have to admit, my first impression was that students making fun of teacher, as the video clearly shows that they are laughing at and enjoying the recording experience.

Nevertheless, despite the fact that this may be set up by pupils, there are no excuses for teacher to behave like that.

Video was uploaded on 14 October 2010 and does not provide any description.

However, a Facebook friend of mine says that his brother saw this video before and recognised his former teacher. According to him, the video was made in school No. 129, and the teacher’s name is Lena Abgaryan.

Now if only those who put the videos on YouTube learn writing appropriate titles and description, and put relevant labels...

Video shows physical and verbal abuse by teacher allegedly at one of elite schools in Yerevan

YouTube video in circulation today shows physical and verbal abuse by one of teachers allegedly at an elite school (named after Pushkin) in downtown Yerevan.

I thought that such behaviour by teachers is a thing of past. Apparently, not. And if we believe the video description, this incident allegedly took place at one of the most prestigious schools in Armenia.

No more info is available as of now. Interestingly, this video was uploaded on 7 May 2010, but became known today thanks to its circulation on Facebook.

I can only say that I am so glad that school children in Yerevan started embracing modern technology to fight cases of abuse by teachers. I am so in favour for children using mobile phones. Well done, guys.

Exposed online. First - denial. Now - confirmation. Sadistic officer in Armenia army arrested and faces up to 5 years in prison for abuse of soldiers

When we first exposed the video, they said it was ‘fabricated’ without even preliminary investigation. In an initial statement by MoD there were even threats to those who made and disseminate the video with partly successful but inevitably unsuccessful attempts to erase the video from the Internet.

“The Ministry of Defence of Armenia strongly condemns preparation and deliberate dissemination of such materials aimed at discrediting and diminishing the reputation of the armed forces of Armenia.”

Speaking before the parliament, Minister of Defence Seyran Ohanyan called the video a “disinformation”. “It’s a disinformation about our army, and I do not believe what was captured on that video has really taken place”, he said. Some pseudo-patriotic circles immediately pointed fingers towards the ‘enemy side’.

However... Only hours after the Minister’s statement, sadistic officer was identified and detained, and we received an official confirmation of the authenticity of the video.

In its latest statement, “the Armenian Defense Ministry officially confirmed on Wednesday the identity of an army officer who was arrested last week for abusing his soldiers and is now facing up to five years in prison.”

The arrest followed the circulation of an amateur Youtube video that shows a uniform-clad man hitting and humiliating two army conscripts during what looks like a picnic. The footage caused public outrage, prompting the Armenian military to order an inquiry.

The Defense Ministry initially questioned its veracity and said those who posted it on the Internet are keen to “discredit” the Armed Forces. Subsequent media reports said military investigators tracked down the officer shown in the clip. He was identified as Major Sasun Galstian, deputy commander of an army unit deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh.

In a written statement, the ministry said Galstian was arrested and formally charged last Friday under an article of the Criminal Code dealing with abuse of power committed by servicemen. It carries between two and five years’ imprisonment.

The ministry statement also identified the two soldiers allegedly mistreated by Galstian, saying that they both will be examined by forensic medics. It said the video was shot in July on a mobile phone belonging to another serviceman, in the presence of his father and brother.

I’d like to re-cite this comment made under my initial post by Ara Manoogian, who re-uploaded the video on YouTube (after it was removed) and consequently faced threats of violence and demands to remove the video:

"I not only think we have a problems with violence in the army, but we have a bigger problem with people willing to face the realities that exist in our nation today, thus presumably an unwillingness to face them head on and deal with them."

So true.

What is the most important and key here is to eradicate and fight the root cause of the problem. We all know very well, without the need of videos to prove, that bullying and hazing do exist and widespread in the armed forces and need urgent intervention. Emerging videos or reports simply highlight this disturbing reality and should be taken as a call for actions. Status quo is a violation of human rights of servicemen and consequently a real threat to the national security of Armenia.

While current developments may be considered as a victory for online activists who exposed and distributed the video in the first place, this will only become a real victory for all of us, including MoD, if Armenian officials face up the widespread problems of corruption and abuse in the army and initiate radical reforms to ensure that similar displays of sadism as well as “suicides” and non combat deaths are prevented and dealt with. In the world of Internet, cover up is an outdated concept.

Disgusting. New video allegedly shows bullying and violence in the Armenian army

UPDATE 23 September 2010: Exposed online. First - denial. Now - confirmation. Sadistic officer in Armenia army arrested and faces up to 5 years in prison for abuse of soldiers

UPDATE 17 September 2010: Armenia MoD confirms that those depicted in army hazing video were identified and detained. More details to be provided.

UPDATE 16 September 2010: Video was removed from Dailymotion too, but available elsewhere, e.g. on YouTube. It keeps getting removed and reappearing again. What is more important is that according to the media reports, the sadistic officer on the video was identified, and soon Armenian MoD will make a statement. MoD refused so far to confirm media reports. Will keep you posted on developments.

UPDATE 12 September 2010: Video was removed from YouTube "due to terms of use violation", but re-appeared on Dailymotion.
***

This video was put on YouTube today and started circulating on Facebook. It titled (AM) Բանակի իրական դեմքը (‘The real face of the army’) and allegedly shows bullying and physical violence in the Armenian army. No description for the video is provided, and it’s not known when and where this video was taken. I can only assume it was taken via mobile phone.




Urgent investigation is needed to reveal the full details of this incident. What is depicted in this video is simply disgusting. This follows recent cases of “suicides” and non combat deaths in the Armenian army. Over the last couple of days there were more reports on “suicide” and non combat violence in the Armenian army.

This video is similar to previously emerged alleged photo evidence of beating in Armenian army as well as similar incidents in Azerbaijan (see here and here)

Confirmed: Video on bullying in Azerbaijani army is genuine, “heroes” of video tape arrested

Remember I posted a video on Unzipped which shows evidence of horrific bullying in Azerbaijani army? Remember how officials from the Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan were casting doubts on that video saying that it was staged to discredit the Azeri army etc. etc. Well, they can no longer do so. Moreover, new evidence is emerging to confirm the systematic nature of the problem.

20 October 2008

"Heroes" of video tape about violence in Azerbaijani army, posted in Internet, arrested

A criminal proceeding has been instituted into the case of the video tape, recording humiliating actions against conscripts by older soldiers, posted on the YouTube website.

Two junior sergeant of N Military Unit of the Internal Force of Azerbaijan, dislocated in Hajiqabul, have been arrested, reports Day,Az with reference to the Yeni Musavat newspaper.Thus, the arrested are junior sergeants Vuqar Aliyev and Eldeniz Rehimov. It has already been five days that they are kept in the Bail investigation facility.Commander of the military unit Hamlet Gurbanov and his deputy on educational works Beyler Eminov have been dismissed.The press service for the Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan confirmed this fact, saying that the commander of the military unit and his deputy were dismissed.It should be noted that a video tape recording humiliation of conscripts by older soldiers in Azerbaijani army has recently been posted on the YouTube video sharing website.

http://today.az/news/society/48367.html



Below is Chronology of official lies.

7 October 2008

"This is a smeary provocation against the army. This video tape is a "good" play. It seems that by wearing the military uniform and recording this on the cell phone, someone tried to create a material about violence in the army. I do not think that those who recorded it and those who posted it on the website are people, who love the Azerbaijani army", said spokesman for Azerbaijani Defence Ministry Eldar Sabiroghlu commenting on the fact that investigation revealed “no such incidents inside the Azerbaijani army”.

http://today.az/news/society/48033.html


8 October 2008

“Now Armenians try to use any, even insignificant, negative fact to throw shadow on Azerbaijan and its armed forces", said Mubariz Ahmedoghlu, head of the centre of political innovations and technologies.

http://today.az/news/society/48063.html


14 October 2008

"All military units had been inspected by Safar Abiyev's order but the "heroes" of the videotape about violence in the army have not been found"

“All military units, controlled by the ministry, have been inspected by the order of Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Safar Abiyev", said spokesman for Azerbaijani Defence Ministry Eldar Sabiroghlu. He noted that the results of investigation proved that the "heroes" of this videotape do not serve in any unit of the Ministry and there have not been any case, which has been recorded on the videotape.

http://today.az/news/society/48223.html

Recommended – Tert.am

It’s been a while that I started following news via Tert.am Armenian news portal too. I recommend it for Armenian news, as well as interesting selection of international news from various fields.

Check out also Tert.am’s Youtube channel.

Video evidence of violence and bullying in Azerbaijani army

Power of YouTube

This should serve as a lesson to the Armenian army officials too: if you do not want to see similar videos from Armenia on YouTube or other internet sites, deal with the problem of bullying and violence in the Army NOW.



Is there violence in the Azerbaijani army? - VIDEO
Today.Az

It is seen from the material that the newly recruited are beaten by other soldiers.

After this video material about possible fact of violence in the Azerbaijani army appeared, the Defense Ministry held its own investigation.

Spokesman for Azerbaijani Defense Ministry Eldar Sabiroghlu said commenting on the fact that investigation revealed no such incidents inside the Azerbaijani army.

"This is a smeary provocation against the army. This video tape is a "good" play. It seems that by wearing the military uniform and recording this on the cell phone, someone tried to create a material about violence in the army. I do not think that those who recorded it and those who posted it on the website are people, who love the Azerbaijani army", said Sabiroghlu.

The spokesman noted that if this really happened, a person, who recorded this video, should have presented it directly to the Defense Ministry. He said if the defense ministry has not reacted to it, they would have been right to post this tape for public review.

Sabiroghlu announced that it is currently not late to appeal to the Defense Ministry, if there are real facts and proofs.

"It seems that someone benefits from the provocation against the army in order to create a negative image of it. It is possible to say that violence in the army has almost been eliminated and the Ministry is operatively reacting and eliminating the problem in any negative case. It is impossible to conceal anything in Azerbaijan and if it was real, the people would have long been informed about his fact. The website, on which this material has been posted, is free and everyone can post any material on it and the authors of the provocation used it against the Azerbaijani army", said Sabiroghlu.

EU hopeful Turkey steps up Internet censorship: Dailymotion becomes second leading video site to be blocked

Reporters Without Borders condemns the stubborn insistence of the Turkish authorities in censoring video-sharing websites. After blocking access to YouTube for the past three months, the authorities began blocking the Paris-based Dailymotion two days ago as well. More...

A1+: 6 years off air...

In one of my first posts after I set up this blog - almost a year ago, on 5 April 2007 - I wrote about A1+ (27 April 2007):

"(for years) They tried to ban A1+ TV, they sort of succeeded, but they was not able to ban A1+, for me - the symbol of free speech in Armenia. A1+ continued its live online. And today they announced the launch of A1+ blog - another step from A1+ journalists to promote free speech in Armenia. [I would also add A1+ YouTube channel - established on 17 January 2008, it became one of the most viewed channels in the whole YouTube!] If one day I switch on TV and see A1+ station live, I will understand that I probably live in different Armenia, in better Armenia, in Armenia which can be transformed to a country where I would prefer live in..."

Today, it's 6 years since A1+ is off air... but still on...

YouTube is unblocked in Armenia

Armenia Election Monitor reports that after several days being blocked, YouTube is now accessible in Armenia. All videos of 1 March events appear to be accessible too (I assume this one too).

The legality of blocking Internet sites under the provisions of 'state of emergency' decree is very questionable. Still, independent and pro-opposition websites remain unaccessible.

It remains to be seen how (if) things will change when as promised today by president Kocharyan, restrictions on media will be partly lifted by tomorrow morning.

Protest Internet Censorship in Armenia! Join Reporters Without Borders 24-hour online demo!

Armenia: Protest Internet Censorship

Given that various media sites as well as YouTube have been blocked in Armenia since the declaration of a state of emergency in the country last weekend, Reporters Sans Frontieres’ first International Online Free Expression Day comes at an appropriate time. On 12 March its second 24-hour online demo against internet censorship will be held. Perhaps Armenia will take its place alongside countries such as China, North Korea and Turkmenistan.

"To denounce government censorship of the Internet and to demand more online freedom, Reporters Without Borders is calling on Internet users to come and protest in online versions of the nine countries that are “Internet enemies” during the 24 hours from 11 a.m. on 12 March to 11 a.m. on 13 March (Paris time). Anyone with Internet access will be able to create an avatar, choose a message for their banner and take part in one of the nine cyber-demos (Burma, China, North Korea, Cyba, Egypt, Erithrea, Tunisia, Turkmenistan and Viêt-nam).

Reporters Without Borders will release its latest list of “Internet enemies” together with a new version of its Handbook for Cyber-Dissidents.

When the first “24 hours against Internet censorship” was held last year, some 40,000 Internet users came and clicked on an inter-active map of the world to help make the “Internet black holes” disappear. This time we can do even more to make this new protest a success and to put pressure on the governments that try to muzzle what should be space where people can express their views freely."

Armenian Associations in Sweden protest media and Internet censorship and one-sided Public TV reporting in Armenia

March 12, 2008

To: Government of Armenia,
Armenia TV and Haylour

To whom it may concern,

The members of the Armenian community in Sweden have with great regret followed the development of the latest presidential elections in Armenia. For a long time the election campaigns seemed to be at least the most active during the entire post independence period and were, despite the still existing shortcomings, regarded as a highly positive step in right direction for democratization of the country where the people for the first time displayed their interest for the topical news and their active participation in the election. However, that soon showed to be a short-lived euphoria.

First and foremost, let it be known that we do not either advocate the opposition or any other particular parties in the election and do not intend this letter as a political statement. This letter is solely aimed at the office of the government and the media reporting, their duties and obligations to safeguard democracy and freedom of speech in Armenia. In the current situation the issue seems to have deviated from the real problem, disregarding the institutions in question and instead focusing on individuals. Living in Sweden, considered one of the foremost developed and transparent democracies on the globe, one soon learns that all parties, government or opposition, right or left, 1) work towards the same goal of a prosperous Sweden, 2) everyone has the right to speak up their minds, regardless of this taking 1 day or 1 year 3) even the farthest distance between government and opposition never results in gagging the opposition 4) media is obliged to present a neutral and objective picture of the situation. As citizens of a country which many other nations look up to and praise as a role model for a free and democratic nation, the unfolding events of the past weeks in Armenia are nothing but utterly unacceptable behavior, unbecoming of an Armenia in the 21st century. The declaration of a state of emergency, shooting unarmed demonstrators, and imposing an almost dictatorship-like state-censorship is unbecoming of a republic which Armenia claims to be. That Armenia is depicted as yet another post-Soviet oligarchic-ruled state is not a flattering image that the Armenian Government should strive for.

As far as it concerns the Armenian Public Service TV and in particular the news coverage of Haylour, both during the election campaign and that of the unrest on March 1st and the following days, one can not help but strongly criticize the heavily one-sided, biased reporting that the Haylour has allowed itself to deliver. Once more, we do neither endorse nor defend the actions of the obvious vandals and opportunists who committed the lootings and destruction which followed the unrest, and strongly condemn their actions. However, we feel that it is highly odd that not once, the media allowed the opposition to come forward and condemn (or not if they so wish) the happening, thus setting the record straight whether they defended those actions or dissociate from and condemned them. As a description text of the Public Service TV of Sweden, it is stated that “One of the most important points is ‘to scrutinize authorities, organizations and private firms which exert influence over policy affecting the public, and cover the activities of these and other bodies.’” Sorry to say, but the Armenian TV is parsecs from living up to that standard. Armenia 1 TV and Haylour in particular have done nothing to further agitate and contribute to the current situation in Armenia, smearing all and everyone that has not endorsed government policy. Thus, the public TV and news agency bear an equal responsibility in destabilizing the country. If anything, now that the H1 broadcasting is targeting people living abroad, mostly in developed democratic countries, any sensible, clear-minded person soon starts to question the one-sided reporting and how it comes that no one from the opposition (or for the sake of the argument “the accused”) is given the opportunity to explain and defend themselves?

And finally, that almost all media, radio, and internet sites, such as Armenialiebrty.org and even Youtube are blocked are signs of great concern. We ridiculed and condemned less developed democracies, such as the decision of Turkish Government for doing the same over the Armenian Genocide when the Turkish Government blocked Youtube for “protecting their citizens from untruthful lies.” Do Armenia and the Armenian Government now resorting to the same action? And do does the Armenian Government genuinely believe that the internet sites and the information and the documented news, images, and videos therein will disappear just because the Armenian public in Armenia are prohibited from accessing them? And how long will the prohibition last and then what? The information, the images and the videos will still be there and the general public will eventually learn about all the facts, presented from all perspectives, pro and con.

We welcomed the initiative taken by the Armenian Government to invite all parties to join a coalition which would work for the common goal of taking Armenia forward towards a better future. That the Government resorted to violence and now is implementing actions unbecoming a “republic,” does not fit the image which the Armenian Government, Armenia 1 TV or Haylour are advocating or we as Armenians strive and hope for. Thus, we urge that the Government of Armenia considers completely lifting the state of emergency, allow freedom of speech even for those who do not share the governmental view, and to engage in resolving the situation by peaceful dialogues. What transpired in Yerevan is still by many regarded as unbelievable. The Armenian authorities, regardless of who and what party that holds the post of president or government, must come to realize that they serve one entity and one entity alone: the people of Armenia. It is the people of Armenia who have the right to pass judgment on any political party in the country, empower or dismiss any president or government, since, after all, these offices are elected by the general public. The soon this fact is realized the sooner we can start combating corruption, poverty and anarchy which prevails in Armenia and work for a democratic, prosperous and stable and strong nation worthy of rich cultural and historic heritage that we have inherited.

Yours truly,

The Board of the Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden


*Unzipped - This letter has initially been posted here on 10 March 2008. However, it turned out to be a draft version, therefore the letter was removed and initial post was put on hold. Today - 13 March 2008 - I received a final approved version of this open letter and decided to re-publish it in place of my previous post. [emphasis mine]

Levon Ter-Petrosyan YouTube channel

via Nazarian:

Since the internet is being censored in Armenia, the opposition has created this YouTube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=HyocHamazgainSharjum

Turkish singer and composer on trial for YouTube clip praising Hrant Dink murder

Bianet reports that singer Ismail Türüt and composer Arif Sirin [also known as “Bard” Sirin], as well as two other people are on trial in Turkey charged with creating a clip on YouTube "praising a criminal" and "inciting hatred and hostility". Up to 7.5 years imprisonment are demanded.

The clip which was shown on YouTube was a collage of images referring to the murder of Hrant Dink, accompanied by Sirin's song, with an intent of praising the murder suspects of the journalist.

According to “Agos” newspaper, the prosecution is demanding up to 7.5 years imprisonment for Sirin, Türüt and the two other defendants.

The Istanbul Police Department found out that the clip was put onto YouTube by Hakan Öztekin, who used the nickname “MICHeCK” and Zeynel Abidin Mutlu who used the nickname “dafmaniac” and used an internet provider in Austria.

Öztekin claims that there was no criminal intent in the preparation of the clip, while Mutlu said that it was supposed to be an advertisement.

Clear connection to Hrant Dink murder

However, prosecutor Nurten Altinok came to the conclusion that the clip contained praise of Hrant Dink’s murder and those responsible for it, as well as incitement to violence. The indictment found direct references in the song to the murder of Dink. According to the indictment, the line “Stop ringing (church) bells, stop being pro-Armenian” refer to the mourners at Dink’s funeral who carried placards reading “We are all Armenian”; the lines “If a person sells the homeland, business ends immediately, The sun of the Turk and Islam does not set at the Black Sea” incited hatred and hostility towards people who were not Turkish or not Muslims.