As much as Twitter can be a wonderful tool for journalists, activists and citizens alike, it can also be potentially dangerous and misleading unless certain standards, rules and ethics are applied in its use. A case in point is a recent tweet sent from Azerbaijan which contained no link to the original media report.

Unfortunately, it was re-tweeted as if beyond doubt by Armenians even without corroborative information in the form of a link to support the claim let alone set the context. In fact, when one of those Armenians who re-tweeted the original tweet found and sent a link it was in Azerbaijani, a language they cannot understand and apparently totally at odds with what was implied and reported on Twitter. This is especially relevant given the low quality of reporting and tendency towards knee-jerk reaction in the region.

Bakıda erməniləri müdafiə edən şəxs saxlanılıb? 

Bakı şəhərində müxtəlif internet-forumlarda erməniləri müdafiə edən və onlarla yazışan şəxs saxlanılıb. 

Həmin şəxs bu gün saat 18.00 radələrində metronun Nərimanov stansiyasının yaxınlığındakı parkda hüquq-mühafizə orqanlarının əməkdaşları tərəfindən tutulub. Bu barədə Milli.Az xəbər portalına parkda olan sakinlər məlumat veriblər.

Apardığımız araşdırmadan sonra məlum oldu ki, saxlanılan şəxs25 yaşlı Anar Mühit oğlu Heybətovdur. O, müxtəlif internet saytlarında ermənilərlə danışıqlar aparırmış. Son dəfə də internet-forumda müzakirələr zamanı erməniləri söyən azərbaycanlılara etriaz edib və onlardan birini Nərimanov metrosunun yaxınlığındakı parka çağırıb. Hüquq-mühafizə orqanlarının əməkdaşları həmin şəxsi yaxalayaraq MTN-ə təhvil verib. 

Həmin qurumun ictimaiyyətlə əlaqələr mərkəzinin rəhbəri Arif Babayev MTN tərəfindən belə bir şəxsin saxlanıldığını təsdiq etmədi. 

Milli.Az

URL: http://www.milli.az/news/criminal/1664.html

Given the amount of negative propaganda in circulation because of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, such reports have to be checked first and certainly made available and/or translated before put into widespread circulation as fact. Indeed, when a friend did translate the original Azerbaijani -- and after a 20 minute chat over the Internet to clarify a few points -- the full story is anything but that which the original tweet implied.

Indeed, it says that both men who argued on an Internet forum met and were arrested by police. However, nowhere in the article does it say that the Azerbaijani who defended Armenians in an online discussion was taken to National Security. Indeed, it says that the Azerbaijani who disagreed with being in contact with Armenians was. 

A person defending Armenians is arrested?

A person defending and communicating with Armenians in various internet forums is arrested.

He was arrested by police in the park near Narimanov metro station.The witnesses of the arrest reported to Milli.az news portal.

After some research it turned out that the arrestee is a 25 yr old Anar Muhit oglu Heybatov. He was communicating with Armenians in various internet forums. Last time he objected to Azeris who were cursing Armenians and called out one Azeri ( who was cursing too) to meet up in the park near Narimanov metro station. The person called out by Heybatov to meet up was detained by the police and delivered to NatSec.

Head of PR of NatSec Arif Babayev did not confirm that such person was detained and delivered to them.

Thanks to A. for the translation from Azerbaijani into English

True, the report says that the Azerbaijani National Security Service did not confirm (or deny) whether the nationalist was delivered to them, but the whole angle the headline and introductory text of the story implies is also misleading. As one friend in Baku concluded, it was probably likely that the two men disagreed angrily on an Internet forum, met and could have exchanged blows. The police might have arrested them, but not because they communicated online about Armenians.

Indeed, what is most striking about the story itself is not only that it does not support the impression given by the original tweet, but nothing whatsoever is known about the incident other than one or two men were arrested.

Otherwise, it does not say that Anar Muhit oglu Heybatov was arrested and taken to National Security for defending Armenians online. In fact, as mentioned before, it even alleges that it was the one attacking Armenians who was, although there is nothing to indicate whether this is true either. Of course, given the way the story is being reported and discussed, it could well develop into something else given the prevailing mentality in both Armenian and Azerbaijani circles.

However, for now, what does becomes clear is that people should perhaps be a little more cautious when re-tweeting stories in a language they don't understand and especially when there is no link to the original source.

Basically, the whole story and tweet is misleading. Were both men detained or not, and if so, why? Because of their discussion online or because they met and fought? Of course, while it is possible that Heybatov might now be questioned by National Security because of the irresponsible manner in how a few news outlets and tweets handled the story, it is also indicative enough of why the media in both Armenia and Azerbaijan is neither trusted or respected, and why people should also treat Twitter a little more carefully.

The Internet allows such collaborative discussion and fact-checking to occur so why don't people use it? As it is, I'm told only two media outlets have reported the story and none have any real details on what happened at all. That in itself says a lot.