integrity initiative Armenia: Tweeting Wednesday 9 th May 2018 By Chris Hernon and Victor Madeira Eduard Abrahamyan, a long-term associate of the Institute for Statecraft and postgraduate student at Leicester University, came to the Institute office on 1 May to brief us on the latest detail of the protests in Armenia, which at that time were reaching their peak. He has been in regular personal telephone touch with Pashinyan. We immediately started to monitor the Twitter environment around the situation. We retweeted media organizations and Armenians supporting Pashinyan and tweeted some observations about Kremlin disinformation. It was clear that supporters of protest leader Nikol Pashinyan, who was voted in as prime minister on 8 May, had learned the lessons from previous protests such as Ukraine's Maidan about the value and power of shareable and memorable images. However, they thankfully did not suffer violence from the authorities, so the power of peaceful protest was on display. Aram Shahinvan @aramiggs Everything is special about The Armenian Revolution, even the ways of roadblocking. #RejectHHK AmenianProtests 'erevan #Armenia Photo: Helena Melkonyan https://twitter.com/aramigRs/status/990831217925869568 Defending Democracy Against Disinformation integrity initiative Hettie (Wereldtekst) @HettievanderVen Land in omwenteling. Vorige week was ik nog daar. RT @MikeMinasyants: Very touching photo. The kid is blocking the street with his toy cars. May 2nd, Yerevan. Via Infocom #Yerevanprotests #rejecthhk #armenia https://twitter.com/HettievanderVen/status/991918227222663169 The value of having peaceful, large crowds with flags and symbols in the centre of the capital was also seen: Robert Merriman @RobertHMerriman This reminds me of the spirit of the Catalans. Massive and sustained peaceful protests. Dancing in the streets (it looks like the Sardanal), non-violent civil disobedience. Change can happen. Defending Democracy Against Disinformation integrity initiative https://www.nvtimes.com/2018/05/02/world/europe/armenia-protests-parliament.html?smid=tw- share The Kremlin initially gave cautious backing to a potential change of power, although Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's comment "Russia is always with you" could be interpreted in a more menacing way. However, Kremlin propaganda outlets did begin to prepare the ground for unfavourable outcomes. The Centre for Globalisation Research (Global Research), which features exclusively anti-Western and pro-Kremlin views and conspiracy theories, immediately tried to cast doubt on the protests as genuinely grassroots: Global Research @CRG_CRM What's Washington Really Doing in Armenia? Color Revolution against Moscow? http://ow.ly/hByl30jPmjE https://twitter.com/CRG CRM/status/992373414005526529 While Irish journalist turned Kremlin propagandist Bryan MacDonald used the situation to cast aspersions on the Western 'MSM' Bryan MacDonald @27khv Defending Democracy Against Disinformation integrity initiative Unlike Ukraine & Georgia in the past, Armenia's peaceful revolution hasn't received very much attention in western media. This opposition banner may help explain why: it says "Russia (&) Armenia: friends forever." SCMSI APMEHMfl Ooto: Cepr We pointed out that this was a disingenuous comparison and untrue, and included images of the large numbers of Western media reports. Integrity Initiative @lnitlntegrity Kremlin propagandist at work: 1) The ruling party hasn't violently attacked peaceful protesters and appears to be heeding their demands 2) It's had plenty of Western media coverage https://twitter.com/lnitlntegrity/status/991334836131516416 We also highlighted how the Kremlin deployed its nasty side through lower level propaganda operators Integrity Initiative @lnitlntegrity Defending Democracy Against Disinformation integrity initiative The Kremlin has started a drip-drip of conspiracy theories and thuggish nastiness over Armenia, just keeping it on low boil, to be ramped up if things don't go its way. Propagandist Leontyev basically says if Armenia wants to turn West, get lost, we saved you, no one needs you https://twitter.com/lnitlntegritv/status/993055389968162816 Integrity Initiative @lnitlntegrity Link to Leontyev here https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1001320650032783&id=540425062789013 ..., plus other examples https://twitter.com/lnitlntegrity/status/993062077572018176 Finally, a shaggy dog story... 'Chalo the Protest Dog 1 caught people's imagination within the movement and abroad. Pashinyan began his protest with a 200km march across the country to the capital, and the dog joined him and stayed with him for the whole route. It's a captivating, well-told story that made it easier for foreign viewers to empathise. The BBC picked it up, as did RFERL, which has an Armenian service https://www.rferl.Org/a/armenias-protest-pooch/29209162.html Armenia Social Media Summary By Greg Rowett There are risks involved with open support for the Armenians - both to their movement and to us. Any high-profile support, even merely vocal support, can be seized upon by Kremlin shills and used as evidence that the revolution is being supported by subversive western evidence. Thus, we must be extremely cautious and thoughtful in our actions. Open support might be welcomed by some but may drive others away from the revolution - both in Armenia and in the West. This especially true for British elements, with the UK being perceived as generally hostile to Russia in all things. This does not preclude action though: there is much support we can provide to the Armenians behind the scenes, pointing them towards material and information that supports their points, connecting them to experts and providing analysis of the online environment, both in Russia, Armenia, the region and the West. This information can be utilised by the Armenians to address and counter the main shill arguments, neutering the shill network. We can also educate them on the main Russian tactics and strategies online, and how to best resist them in general. (Summary) - Consider the risk of open western support, but do not allow that to deter us. Provide support and education on how to counter Russian shill/bot one possible form of aid. Defending Democracy Against Disinformation