Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Boris Stomakhin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Case Opened on 15:07, 18 July 2007 (UTC)

Case Closed on 14:40, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

Watchlist all case pages: 1, 2, 3, 4

Please do not edit this page directly unless you wish to become a participant in this case. (All participants are subject to Arbitration Committee decisions, and the ArbCom will consider each participant's role in the dispute.) Comments are very welcome on the Talk page, and will be read, in full. Evidence, no matter who can provide it, is very welcome at /Evidence. Evidence is more useful than comments.

Arbitrators, the parties, and other editors may suggest proposed principles, findings, and remedies at /Workshop. That page may also be used for general comments on the evidence. Arbitrators will then vote on a final decision in the case at /Proposed decision.

Once the case is closed, editors may add to the #Log of blocks and bans as needed, but closed cases should not be edited otherwise. Please raise any questions at Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration#Requests for clarification.

Involved parties[edit]

Statement by Biophys[edit]

In my opinion, this case has very little to do with article Boris Stomakhin. The initial RfC was filed by User:Colchicum in February Wikipedia:Requests_for_comment/Vlad_fedorov. The RfC was about alleged wikistalking by User:Vlad fedorov. In reply, User:Vlad_fedorov filed RfC against me. This conflict involves numerous articles (at least 20 of them) and perhaps several other users, although it was mostly between Vlad and me. I proposed to "stay out of each other's edits" to defuse the situation [1], but Vlad refused.

I must admit the following: (1) I claimed that Vlad's deletions of sourced text in more than 20 articles is "vandalism"; (2) I alleged that Vlad's edits in certain articles were made with the purpose to disturb my work and therefore qualify as "wikistalking"; (3) I was involved in RR warring with Vlad on numerous occasions (when all negotiations failed), especially when he deleted sourced texts.

But let's simply reconstruct the sequence of events.

1. We had a content dispute over article Boris Stomakhin. I objected certain WP:BLP violations and insisted that words "Kill, kill, kill!" [citizens of Russian Federation] have no place in WP, because they are taken from an unreliable web site of a "revolutionary organization" and make offensive claims with regard to a third party (Russian population). I tried to convince Vlad at talk page but could not (this is my most recent attempt: [2], I omit many previous attempts to negotiate). Vlad reported me for alleged 3RR violation, but I was commended by an uninvolved administrator for enforcing WP:BLP policy [3]. Vlad continued RR warring and was blocked by another administrator.

2. Vlad evaded his block [4] but blamed both uninvolved administrators of unfair treatment [5] (see reply [6]). Then he went to WP:ANI and claimed that I incite ethnic hatred, although it was me who objected blatant propaganda ("Kill, kill, kill!") in WP. In the process, he asked third uninvolved administrator: "Are you sane?" [7].

3. In another episode, Vlad hinted that I am also insane and "should see your doctor" [8], and that WP users would be happy if I died [9].

4. Vlad starts re-editing my edits in numerous articles created or significantly expanded by me, mostly by deleting sourced text [10] [11]. As a simple and typical example of Vlad's editing, I can show you article Nikolai Koltsov where Vlad did not admit even reference to Nature (journal): [12]. I negotiated this matter many times [13] [14] but nothing helped: Vlad reverted me at least 16 times [15]. Here [16] Vlad insisted that I can not summarize a content of the book in the WP article about this book, so I decided not to edit anything to avoid RR war. A few examples of his editing in different articles (diffs): [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25]. There are many more edits of that kind (most of them were actually made after filing the RfCs described below; so this is not exactly a chronological order).

5. When I helped User:Colchicum with formatting his articles, Vlad started following his edits too. Colchicum asked Alex Bakharev for an informal mediation, but Vlad did not want to listen and only blamed others as liars or worse [26]. Colchicum filed an RfC comment about Vlad's alleged wikistalking; I supported his RfC.

6. In retaliation, Vlad submitted another RfC claiming that it was me who is real wikistalker. His claim was obviously false because all ~20 articles were created or expanded by me, whereas Vlad was coming only later to "censor" me by deleting a sourced text, copying a POV fork [27] from another article (compare to Aleksey Galkin), etc. This RfC was supported by User:ellol.

7. CPTGbr came uninvited to my talk page and claimed that some persons in WP possibly "work for Russian government". I politely asked him and others to leave my talk page and deleted their comments as inappropriate: [28]. However, these words of CPTGbr promoted me to create article Internet brigades. This article is not directed against anyone personally, as clear from its text. This article made strong impression on Vlad and ellol, who nominated this article for deletion and re-edited it many times.

8. User:ellol sent me a coded message using Russian criminal slang [29], which includes the following passage (my translation): "Everything can be done for money. I am not satisfed with Putin. It is better to come to an agreement at the court of criminals than to be killed by knife. One must be punished for making too much noise." (Russian: ""Бабки рулят", "Путин меня не вставляет", "Пацанские распальцовки на стрелках -- всё-таки цивилизованнее, чем заточка в бок", "КГ/АМ", "Западло не отвечать за базар",). In reply to statement by User:ellol below, I would like to emphasize that my translation of his message above is correct, although a number of alternative translations is possible from the criminal slang. Please note this signature of ellol [30], where he accuses me of wikistalking Vlad [31], which makes him very much involved in this case.

9. We had disputes with Vlad in WP:ANI, such as this [32], and he blamed not only me, but also other users and uninvolved administrators [33] [34]. Biophys 16:05, 12 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Statement by Vlad fedorov[edit]

I would like to claim recusation of the arbitrator James F.. These photos show that he is one of friends of user Piotrus who is in very bad relations with me, who was conspiring with other administrators outside of wikipedia to persecute me. Biophys is a memeber of Piotrus team (see his arbcom), and I guess James F. voted here not accidentally.

On this particular photo James F. is with Piotrus. I think this is again a case of out Wikipedia canvassing by user Piotrus. And I think this and my block by user David Gerard belongs also to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_arbitration/Piotrus/

Having regard to the fact that outside Wikipedia canvassing by Piotrus continues. I hereby claim the recusation of all Piotrus and Biophys firends as arbitrators, for it is evident that these people are not going to be objective in ther evaluation of the dispute, which James F. has shown immediately after he was invited here by Piotrus.

Please, also have regard to the fact that David Gerard while blocking me, hasn't blocked Biophys for his exactly the same actions for which David Gerard was blocking me. See here in detail. Vlad fedorov 03:58, 12 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Please note hasty additions by Biophys of writings he describes as an attempt to to resolve the dispute.

Some attempts to cover up.

My reverts (???) in Boris Stomakhin article:

  • note the absense of Biophys texts deletions

my six intermediate reverts, please not the absense of any deletions of Biophys texts

  • Again my edit with couple of intermediate, please note the absense of Biophys texts deletions
  • again my edits with more than 20 (!) intermediate, please note the absense of Biophys texts deletions
  • please note that here I delete original research by Biophys "similar cases"
  • please note again I clarify texts by translating and giving the content of the Official court judgement and delete "similar cases" original research by Biophys
  • not a revert but anyway - insertions of additional citations please note, no touching of Biophys texts
  • again resinsertion and adding by me of the material sourced, note that I do not delete newly added citations by Biophys even though they are in violation of Undue Weight
  • please note no deletions of Biophys texts, just reinsertion of my texts inserted previously Biophys texts

Reverts by Biophys

  • 2 revert with three intermediate reverts note the deletion of text
  • revert with some intermediate, note the deletions of my texts by Biophys
  • revert with some intermediate, please note the large scale deletions of my texts by Biophys
  • evert with one intermediate deletion of Stomakhin Kill Kill Kill
  • revert having regard to the fact that Biophys claimed Izvestia article and Stomakhin citation as violation of BLP, I insereted text that Stomakhin was calling to commit terrorist attacks on Russian civilians and called for violent change of constitutional regime, however Biophys deleted even that version, therefore this particular coverage of particular activities by this "political prisoner" as Biophys was depicting him, was eradicated from Wikipedia by Biophys despite the fact that a lot of reliable sources cover that aspect.
  • again revert by Biophys of what he named "distortion"
  • revert of citations of Stomakhin in dispute
  • revert again new compromise version is deleted by Biophys
  • deletion of original research similar cases and false claims by Naftalin that Stomakhin was pushed out from the window, later I added sources for the attorney of Stomakhin who acknowledged that Stomakhin jumped out himself trying to escape
  • again deletion of my content and adding other citations by Biophys. Please note that article no is unbalanced and in violation of NPOV and Undue Weight, please see that I do not try to overcome this
  • beginning of sterile revert war by Biophys when he undoes the whole text of the article

Insertions of original research by Biophys

original research]

  • making original research and presenting call to kill by Stomakhin as "punishement" for occupation and suggesting it as a compromise (!!!) version for me

Statement by partially involved Diez2[edit]

I was the mediator of the Mediation Cabal case above all the way back in February. Since then, I did file the Rfm for them, and have been following the case as it slowly proceeded, but now I think it warrants arbitration because there has been a lot of failed mediation, and both users have been blocked for edit warring. Furthermore, the article in question has been fully protected several times. I think it's time a final decision was handed down on this. Diez2 04:57, 8 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Even though I am not directly involved, Looking at your compromise, it doesn't look like it worked. Even with the compromise, Daniel still closed the case as "Beyond the realm of mediation." Diez2 05:49, 9 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Preliminary decisions[edit]

Arbitrators' opinions on hearing this matter (4/0/0/0)[edit]

  • Accept. Note that we cannot, and will not, rule on content. James F. (talk) 10:44, 11 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  • Accept. Kirill 04:04, 12 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  • Accept. SimonP 16:29, 12 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  • Accept to look at behavior of all involved parties not the content issues. FloNight 13:09, 17 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Temporary injunction (none)[edit]

Final decision[edit]

All numbering based on /Proposed decision (vote counts and comments are there as well)

Principles[edit]

Courtesy[edit]

1) Wikipedia users are expected to behave reasonably and calmly in their dealings with other users. Insulting and intimidating other users harms the community by creating a hostile environment. Personal attacks are not acceptable.

Passed 7 to 0, 14:40, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

Consensus[edit]

2) Wikipedia works by building consensus through the use of polite discussion. The dispute resolution process is designed to assist consensus-building when normal talk page communication has not worked. Sustained edit-warring is not an appropriate method of resolving disputes, and is wasteful of resources and destructive to morale.

Passed 7 to 0, 14:40, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

Findings of Fact[edit]

Vlad fedorov[edit]

1) Vlad fedorov (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) has engaged in a wide variety of disruptive behavior, including threats ([35]), personal attacks ([36], [37], [38], [39]), sustained revert-warring ([40], [41], [42], [43], [44], [45], [46]), and egregiously inappropriate commentary ([47]).

Passed 7 to 0, 14:40, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

Remedies[edit]

Note: All remedies that refer to a period of time, for example to a ban of X months or a revert parole of Y months, are to run concurrently unless otherwise stated.

Vlad fedorov banned[edit]

1) Vlad fedorov (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) is banned from Wikipedia for a period of one year.

Passed 7 to 0, 14:40, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

Log of blocks and bans[edit]

Any block, restriction, ban, or sanction performed under the authorisation of a remedy for this case must be logged at Wikipedia:Arbitration enforcement log, not here.