One of active politicians on Facebook is Minister of Education and Science, Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) member Armen Ashotyan who is much criticized for that. The minister posts educational and cultural news on his Facebook wall,posts links to publications in the press, comments on political developments through songs of representatives of the Russian show business etc.
“While the police of the Republic of Armenia ‘clears’ voting lists from cemetery voters, I suggest we all clear our friend lists from fake users. Let us build a non-fake Facebook,” for example, this funny statement of the minister has been liked by 111 people and has been much discussed. www.aravot.am asked Armen Ashotyan whether he didn’t feel uncomfortable that he was criticized the most, as a result of being an active “Facebook Armenian.” “Two years ago, when Facebook and other social networks became political factors, some political circles and mass media in Armenia started to assess their role. Now, when I am very actively involved in Facebook, they try to pursue another policy in the following way, in particular – Facebook is a place for idle people, what a place is it…? How come that for the same people social networks were a tool for political changes and change of power, were very important and when the one responsible for the field of education, an official logs in there, who first of all spreads materials related to the field of education and science, engages in discussions, receives and responds to letters, it has become secondary? They show double standards here,” says Armen Ashotyan.
According to him, it is unserious to blame people for being on Facebook, “It is like blaming a man for, let’s say, speaking on a mobile phone or having an email. I understand that I bother many on Facebook, internal political opponents don’t like my activity, including political activity. Many people would prefer, if I wasn’t there or wasn’t engaged in politics, but one should express substantial disagreements, not in the way that will be funny for all those people who know the power of technologies, have something to say and can talk to people with a clear conscience even on Facebook.”
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Our interlocutor informed that the youngest user of Facebook who wrote to him was a 7-year-old boy.
The Minister of Education and Science doesn’t treat seriously criticism voiced against him concerning Facebook, anyway.
“On one hand people demand from the government to be accountable and transparent, on the other, they try to condemn it, seeing the first signs of showing those things. I don’t think that
one should treat all this very seriously. Some political forces invested huge financial and human resources to ensure their own presence on Facebook, but when a Republican becomes active there, they try to blame us for idleness. If social networks are places for idle people, are secondary and are a technology, then why do you, dear colleagues, invest huge resources in the same field?” says he.
Gohar HAKOBYAN
