Your trusted source

Azerbaijan media ran false information about the participation of Marat Sargsyan, a film director and representative of the Armenian Community in Lithuania, in the presentation of the book “The Nagorno Karabakh Conflict. Details and Ways of Resolution” organised by the Lithuanian Centre for Geopolitical Studies and the project Azerbaijanis Abroad and carried out by APA holding and Azerbaijan State Committee on Work with Diaspora. Sargsyan was accused of ‘an attempt to carry out provocation’ and ‘disrupt the event.’ Panorama.am reached Sargsyan for comment.

Panorama: How did you learn about the event?
MS: We learnt about it from BNS news agency. It was obvious from the very beginning that yet another ‘bribed theatre’ was coming. That is why I printed several well-known quotes by Sakharov and US Senators, and recorded a video in my tablet showing Sayudis [Public Movement of Lithuania, – ed.] and Lithuanians supporting Artsakh movement in 1988. I wanted to ask the Lithuanians, ‘What happened to your values to make you shift your views so abruptly?’

Panorama: What really happened?
MS: I went to event alone before its beginning. An Azerbaijani came up to me at the entrance and wondered who I was. I answered that I am from the Armenian diaspora. He froze for a few seconds, then said ‘yes’ and ran to the Azerbaijani ambassador with his mouth left open. The latter started to peep at me quietly. I turned to the chairperson of the organisation but she refused to let me speak at the event. However, I reminded her that we are in democratic Lithuania and that I have the right to do that. Then they gave me three minutes to have a speech and Dalia Kuodyte, a member of the Seimas, joined me.
Out of the 20 people sitting in the hall, 10 were Azerbaijanis eight of which did not speak either Lithuanian or English, and 10 Lithuanians two of which were bribed correspondents, one was a Seimas member, and the rest were the authors of the book and the organisers of the events. That is why no one had questions but me, of course.

In my speech, I said there were several factors of bias in the whole thing: lack of professionalism, favour or hatred towards one of the parties and, above all, venality. I turned to the Lithuanians with the question whether they would be free enough to visit Artsakh and hear the Artsakhians’ opinion, as well, or invite a representative of Artsakh to events like this. I added that I was not the one who needed the answer to that question but themselves.

Panorama: What measures does the Armenian Diaspora in Lithuania use against Azerbaijani falsifications?
MS: Certainly, it is difficult to fight against huge sums of money. But, thank God, there are honest Lithuanians and Seimas members. We hold events, too, but not of that level, of course. We often voice our position on the TV. Most importantly, we have a brilliant ambassador of Armenia to Lithuania, Ara Ayvazyan, who is able to win people’s hearts and minds. It would be very difficult without him.