Tweet
SUREN MOVSISYAN: "I BELIEVE, LEICESTER UNIVERSITY IS HEREBY ENGAGED IN POLITICALLY SENSITIVE RESEARCH PROJECT".
Daily press
20/03/2012
Early February Leicester University Law School of United Kingdom
announced "Khojaly" research project to invite two research fellows
from Armenia and Russia to undertake investigation over the events
of February 1992.
Azg Daily newspaper has conducted an interview with political scientist
Suren Movsisyan, who says he applied for the research project, but
was refused.
Mr. Movsisyan, first of all thanks for reaching out. My first question
- how did you learn about the Khojaly Project at Leicester Law School?
As an Alumnus of the University of Leicester, I usually look through
the University web page to find out recent job opportunities at
this highly regarded institution. I was really surprised while came
across the announcement on Khojaly research project, and was very much
interested in getting involved into the Project based on my previous
research and working experience. And, assembling all the documents,
I applied for it before the deadline.
That's what I would ask you now. Did you apply? And do you know if
any Armenian scholar applied as well. Is anyone chosen and involved
in the project at the end?
Yes, I did apply, but, unfortunately, have no idea if anyone else
did. However, I would wish anyone else best luck in his or her
endeavor, because I myself received a refusal letter as of March 9.
You know, even without any interview, which is really weird, because I
have an extensive research background and, as I said, I am a Leicester
Alumnus. With this said, I believe, Leicester University is hereby
engaged in politically sensitive research project.
What's the description of the project? How can you assess the
scientific value?
As I said I read the project announcement at Leicester webpage, and
later on found the project description and the call for applications
at jobs.ac.uk. While reading the announcement for the position
of Research Assistant within Khojaly project, I noticed numerous
gaps that, to my mind, contradict the very nature and the spirit of
academic research. But even considering this, I applied for it with
the aim of providing my humble contribution and added value to the
research project with my knowledge and experience.
Let me stop for a moment on the gaps. First of all, the "purpose"
of the project was missing. I can't imagine any research without
its purpose outlined. It seems to me that the focus of the research,
which was slightly provided, aimed at distracting the attention of
the reader and the applicant from missed purpose of the project.
Moreover, the research announcement, by the way, also lacked a
call for a researcher in Azerbaijan, which is crucial in terms of
researching on the allegations that Azeri top level leaders had
their part of what happened in February 1992. To support this, by
the way again, lets not forget what happened a week later in Baku,
I mean the power change in presidential palace early March 1992. I do
not want to go deeply into history that preceded and followed those
uncertain events in Khojaly at this point, but I am sure, biased,
imperfect and highly politicized research findings are unacceptable
for any respected academic institution.
It's certain that any type of research should be objective and
academically viable so that findings are without bias and served to
the objective reasons. Objectivity is when research is neutral, when
personal bias has been removed, meaning two independent researchers
should be able to conduct the same research and get the same outcome.
Here I am very much doubtful about the outcome of this specific
project, while the international community needs to know what really
happened in Khojaly and why.
So it seems to be a rather politically sensitive, doesn't it? If so,
isn't it biased for Leicester University Law School to undertake this
kind of research?
Sure, it is politically sensitive issue because it covers politically
difficult period in Azerbaijan, which I briefly mentioned above; it
touches upon Nagorno Karabakh conflict itself which is still ongoing
and regional security issues in the Caucasus. I suspect, that this
project is initiated specifically in Law School to use the results
as an additional tool for information propaganda, anti-Armenian hate
speech and war rhetoric build-up. Unfortunately, the University of
Leicester, being a pure academic institution with its well known
research centers, is going to be a platform for falsification which
will negatively affect the University prestige as one of the top
universities in the Great Britain. Indeed I regret that the University
of Leicester which I consider to be my Alma Mater, and now proudly
pointing myself to be a Leicester graduate, is involved in suspicious
research with obvious and purely non-academic objectives.
Anything more you want to add?
I wish any Armenian researcher were involved into this project to make
it less biased and vulnerable in methodology, approach, analysis and
data gathering. Regretfully, my application was refused so that I have
no choice than to wait till the results of this false and non-academic
research will be published. Moreover, I am going to talk about this
biased research at all possible levels using all relevant chances. In
follow-up email communication I told Dr. Paul Behrens - the project
leader, as announced on Law School webpage, about my intention of
heavily criticizing this biased approach, and I do hope it will get
relevant response from international academic community as well.
Daily press
20/03/2012
Early February Leicester University Law School of United Kingdom
announced "Khojaly" research project to invite two research fellows
from Armenia and Russia to undertake investigation over the events
of February 1992.
Azg Daily newspaper has conducted an interview with political scientist
Suren Movsisyan, who says he applied for the research project, but
was refused.
Mr. Movsisyan, first of all thanks for reaching out. My first question
- how did you learn about the Khojaly Project at Leicester Law School?
As an Alumnus of the University of Leicester, I usually look through
the University web page to find out recent job opportunities at
this highly regarded institution. I was really surprised while came
across the announcement on Khojaly research project, and was very much
interested in getting involved into the Project based on my previous
research and working experience. And, assembling all the documents,
I applied for it before the deadline.
That's what I would ask you now. Did you apply? And do you know if
any Armenian scholar applied as well. Is anyone chosen and involved
in the project at the end?
Yes, I did apply, but, unfortunately, have no idea if anyone else
did. However, I would wish anyone else best luck in his or her
endeavor, because I myself received a refusal letter as of March 9.
You know, even without any interview, which is really weird, because I
have an extensive research background and, as I said, I am a Leicester
Alumnus. With this said, I believe, Leicester University is hereby
engaged in politically sensitive research project.
What's the description of the project? How can you assess the
scientific value?
As I said I read the project announcement at Leicester webpage, and
later on found the project description and the call for applications
at jobs.ac.uk. While reading the announcement for the position
of Research Assistant within Khojaly project, I noticed numerous
gaps that, to my mind, contradict the very nature and the spirit of
academic research. But even considering this, I applied for it with
the aim of providing my humble contribution and added value to the
research project with my knowledge and experience.
Let me stop for a moment on the gaps. First of all, the "purpose"
of the project was missing. I can't imagine any research without
its purpose outlined. It seems to me that the focus of the research,
which was slightly provided, aimed at distracting the attention of
the reader and the applicant from missed purpose of the project.
Moreover, the research announcement, by the way, also lacked a
call for a researcher in Azerbaijan, which is crucial in terms of
researching on the allegations that Azeri top level leaders had
their part of what happened in February 1992. To support this, by
the way again, lets not forget what happened a week later in Baku,
I mean the power change in presidential palace early March 1992. I do
not want to go deeply into history that preceded and followed those
uncertain events in Khojaly at this point, but I am sure, biased,
imperfect and highly politicized research findings are unacceptable
for any respected academic institution.
It's certain that any type of research should be objective and
academically viable so that findings are without bias and served to
the objective reasons. Objectivity is when research is neutral, when
personal bias has been removed, meaning two independent researchers
should be able to conduct the same research and get the same outcome.
Here I am very much doubtful about the outcome of this specific
project, while the international community needs to know what really
happened in Khojaly and why.
So it seems to be a rather politically sensitive, doesn't it? If so,
isn't it biased for Leicester University Law School to undertake this
kind of research?
Sure, it is politically sensitive issue because it covers politically
difficult period in Azerbaijan, which I briefly mentioned above; it
touches upon Nagorno Karabakh conflict itself which is still ongoing
and regional security issues in the Caucasus. I suspect, that this
project is initiated specifically in Law School to use the results
as an additional tool for information propaganda, anti-Armenian hate
speech and war rhetoric build-up. Unfortunately, the University of
Leicester, being a pure academic institution with its well known
research centers, is going to be a platform for falsification which
will negatively affect the University prestige as one of the top
universities in the Great Britain. Indeed I regret that the University
of Leicester which I consider to be my Alma Mater, and now proudly
pointing myself to be a Leicester graduate, is involved in suspicious
research with obvious and purely non-academic objectives.
Anything more you want to add?
I wish any Armenian researcher were involved into this project to make
it less biased and vulnerable in methodology, approach, analysis and
data gathering. Regretfully, my application was refused so that I have
no choice than to wait till the results of this false and non-academic
research will be published. Moreover, I am going to talk about this
biased research at all possible levels using all relevant chances. In
follow-up email communication I told Dr. Paul Behrens - the project
leader, as announced on Law School webpage, about my intention of
heavily criticizing this biased approach, and I do hope it will get
relevant response from international academic community as well.