Lismore Northern Star

Russian daily publishes fake interview

25th September 2009

A RUSSIAN newspapers has issued a sheepish apology for running a fake
interview with the president of the former Soviet republic of Armenia.

ONE of Russia’s most popular newspapers issued a sheepish apology on
Tuesday for running a fake interview with the president of the former
Soviet republic of Armenia.

Moskovsky Komsomolets had run the interview on Monday – when Armenia
marked its annual independence day – calling it an "exclusive" based
on a lengthy meeting in President Serzh Sarkisian’s presidential
palace.

"In fact, the president of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sarkisian,
did not give an interview to Moskovsky Komsomolets. An unprepared
article was published through the fault of the editor on duty," it
said on its website.

"Those responsible were disciplined," the broadsheet said, adding that
the interview had been based on previous Sarkisian statements
presented as answers to "hypothetical questions" that he was not
actually asked.

"We hope our regrettable mistake will not spoil anyone’s holiday," the
newspaper said.

In the fake interview, Sarkisian praised Armenia’s close ties to
Russia and discussed various issues affecting his small Caucasus
country, including its rapprochement with longtime foe Turkey.