Attempt to Spread Fake Information Uncovered by NSS

The National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia, continuing to carry out its functions and powers assigned by the legislation of the Republic of Armenia in the field of information security, is actively uncovering fake users who publish and disseminate false information on the internet that harms the security of the state, society, and individuals. This was reported by the National Security Service.

In particular, on May 29, 2023, an Azerbaijani user named "Qizil alma" posted a one-and-a-half-minute edited video on the YouTube platform titled "Shocking Confession of an Armenian Architect About Yerevan: It’s Not Ours". In the video, a woman introduced as Agnes answers questions from a man filming the video in the Russian language. While at the Republic Square in Yerevan, Agnes states that "Yerevan used to be a village-like city. Almost no Armenians lived here and they were engaged in trade." The study of the video shows that it is edited from separate sentences taken from an original video, and by combining these sentences, the meaning and content of the conversation has been distorted.

The edited video has circulated in Azerbaijani media with a corresponding anti-Armenian textual commentary, claiming that the Armenian woman "loudly proclaims" that no Armenians lived in Yerevan. By manipulating this statement, the Azerbaijani side emphasizes that this is another proof that "Yerevan" is an ancient Azerbaijani city that was given to Armenians in 1918.

It has turned out that the real video was recorded in February 2020 by Russian blogger Ilya Varlamov, who was highlighting the issues of the cities he visited in Armenia, while Agnes offered her assistance to present Yerevan. In Varlamov's video, he speaks about the area of Yerevan where the Ghantari market used to operate in the 1850s, which is currently near V. Sargsyan Street, where mainly Persians lived (but not Azerbaijanis), and Armenians visited the area for trade.

This incident once again demonstrates that the Azerbaijani side is trying to "embed" itself in history through fabrications, which, however, has not succeeded. We urge the citizens of the Republic of Armenia to be more vigilant, exercise caution, avoid panic, and refrain from disseminating such videos. In case such videos are discovered, please report the users who posted them to the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia.