Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Solavirum/Archive

Suspected sockpuppets



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After Solavirum's repeated topic ban violations in AA area, they're currently tbanned from AA and overlapping areas. Please see the latest log below, quote:


 * "Following yet another topic ban violation (I think number 4 or 5 now, if we count all the warnings for these that did not lead to sanctions), Solavirum has committed to avoiding anything related to the Ottomans, Iranians, Turks, Persians, Georgians, Caucuses, Caspian Sea, etc. — hello et cetera! (AE perm link)" [link]

I strongly believe that the two IPs, 89.219.167.210  /  89.219.165.125  (same range) is Solavirum circumventing their tban. The IPs didn't edit in many articles, but their edits have been extensive in nature and in very specific pages where Solavirum has edited in the past, see: List of massacres of Azerbaijanis, List of wars involving Azerbaijan, Template:Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, Template:Wars involving Azerbaijan.

Diffs of limited IP edits:, , , ,

Diffs of Solavirum's edits in same pages:, , , ,.

It's strange and odd that new IPs start their second edits in Template pages. What is even stranger, not only Solavirum has edited in both of the template pages in the past, but in one of these Templates, Template:Wars involving Azerbaijan‎, Solavirum was among the whopping 4 users who have edited in the page through its entire existence, see edit history of the article.

The IP also seems to know me. Their first edit of 13:09, 20 November 2021 in List of massacres of Azerbaijanis used the same edit description even the same link as my edit couple hours prior to that, only difference being mine was in a completely different article, see 10:30, 20 November 2021 edit in Baku.

Given the specific pages those "new" same range IPs have chosen to edit, especially the random Template page(s) where Solavirum happened to be one of the only 4 contributors (including the IP), given the similarities of edits both IPs and Solavirum's being content additions, and given Solavirum's past difficulties from abstaining from AA area, I believe those are his sock IPs. ZaniGiovanni (talk) 08:42, 23 November 2021 (UTC)


 * Sir Sputnik The same IP with different range, resurfaced again in a page where Solavirum edited in the past extensively. I've seen the IP a couple of times this month in AA but forget about this report if I'm being honest.
 * Anyway, the recent IP edit of 18:58, 9 December 2021, or I should say revert in Detention of Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev happened just after 10 min of another user's edit 18:49, 9 December 2021. Please note that the page has less than 30 watchers and is viewed less than 120 times monthly, source. Please also note that Solavirum was a large contributor to the page, having made almost 50 edits, source.
 * I think the speed of reaction, the fact that it is a very niche article with Solavirum being a large contributor in it, and given previous similarities listed in the above comment, I'm leaning to think that this is a WP:DUCK case. ZaniGiovanni (talk) 17:19, 11 December 2021 (UTC)

Comments by other users
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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * - CheckUser evidence cannot be used to connect registered accounts to IP addresses. Sir Sputnik (talk) 02:14, 24 November 2021 (UTC)
 * It's certainly possible, but I can't say with enough confidence to take any action. 89.219.164.0/22 geolocates to Azerbaijan, so it's not surprising that somebody using that range would be interested in this topic and have similar opinions.  And while I agree that some of the behaviors indicate prior knowledge of both how wikipedia works and other specific editors, that doesn't prove they're Solavirum. -- RoySmith (talk) 17:20, 20 December 2021 (UTC)

Suspected sockpuppets



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I was advised to open a new SPI. The following evidence wasn't present in the previous one, hence a new one should be sufficient (FYI, the suspected sockmaster is topic banned from AA area).

I noticed the same range IP,, pop up in a newly created article, Azerbaijani reconstruction of Karabakh, here's the diff 14:28, 21 December 2021. I found it extremely odd how supposed "new" IP is yet again familiar with such a niche article that hasn't even been up for a week. Furthermore, I decided to check the only available interwiki version of that article, Böyük Qayıdış, which not surprisingly happens to be in az-wiki. And sure enough, Solavirum happens to be the az-wiki version creator, and did 3 edits in the same timeframe as IP: 14:29, 21 December 2021 / 14:30, 21 December 2021 / 14:31, 21 December 2021.

The same timings, the random knowledge of IP about this newly created article that doesn't even have a week's age, Solavirum being the creator of it in az-wiki and doing edits literally minutes apart from IP, I believe a behavioral investigation is needed. Also, one thing I didn't notice during the previous case. The same range IP added sources for Gugark pogrom from these websites in the article List of massacres of Azerbaijanis: epress.am, caucasusedition.net, sumgait.info, sdf.gov.az (diff). These are the exact same sources that Solavirum added to Gugark pogrom main article (diff). ZaniGiovanni (talk) 11:17, 4 January 2022 (UTC)

Comments by other users
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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * This isn't a perfect solution, but I've semi-protected List of wars involving Azerbaijan, Template:Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, List of massacres of Azerbaijanis, and Template:Wars involving Azerbaijan for a month. 89.219.164.0/22 has a lot of what looks like legitimate traffic, so I'm hesitant to block it. -- RoySmith (talk) 16:32, 5 January 2022 (UTC)

Suspected sockpuppets
The user Solavirum is currently topic banned from Armenia-Azerbaijan and they have breached it several times. (AE link). The range of IP starting with 89.219 keeps appearing in AA area and doing similar if not 1:1 edits to Solavirum, often times restoring edits done by Solavirum. Shamkhor massacre is a good example: Solavirum's edit (diff), IP edits (diff, diff, diff). This article was about a civilian attack and was called a massacre, until Solavirum added a military conflict infobox instead and renamed it to an “incident”. This IP range is making the exact same highly contentious changes, portraying a massacre as a “battle”.

Additionally, it’s odd that a new IP is familiar with guidelines. IP first edit "peacock" is used as summary, which Solavirum does very often, , ,. ZaniGiovanni (talk) 11:04, 11 May 2022 (UTC)
 * Girth Summit The IP sock keeps appearing in AA area, they use different ranges. The last one was just a week ago . I just couldn't include all the ranges in the 'Suspected' list, it would take too much space. I would suggest a range block as well to avoid future disruption, but you're a lot more experienced with socks and whatnot so please, do as you see fit. ZaniGiovanni (talk) 12:33, 12 May 2022 (UTC)

Comments by other users
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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * It is clear from the evidence presented, and from my own investigation, that Solavirum has been logging out to continue editing in the topic area that they are TBanned from. Given that the last AE case was closed as "the last chance saloon" for them concerning this issue, I don't see any alternative to an indefinite block on their account. I don't see any point in blocking a specific IP that hasn't edit for a month, but we can look at further edits from that range if/when they arise.  Girth Summit  (blether)  08:40, 12 May 2022 (UTC)
 * I'd expect an IP on that range to have changed after a week, so there really isn't any point blocking individual addresses. If they continue doing it, let me know and I'll see whether a range block would be appropriate. Cheers Girth Summit  (blether)  18:04, 12 May 2022 (UTC)

Suspected sockpuppets
Same Solavirum sock IP range still socking, ,. ZaniGiovanni (talk) 10:57, 6 June 2022 (UTC) ZaniGiovanni (talk) 10:57, 6 June 2022 (UTC)

Comments by other users
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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * Relevant ranges are and . At this point everything is stale (our fault, not the filer's) and I don't feel comfortable blocking those ranges at this time. Closing. GeneralNotability (talk) 19:01, 25 June 2022 (UTC)

Suspected sockpuppets
Solavirum has been indef blocked for large amount of IP socking, see IP range. As of today, a new IP appeared in AA, doing similar changes to the past IP addresses of the sockmaster. Examples; Keeping in mind that Solavirim has engaged in a large amount of IP socking, I suggest based on the evidence above that this new address is another puppet, with the master using a different range to avoid being easily identifiable. Especially considering the similarities in content changes/additions, article types and available edit-summaries. ZaniGiovanni (talk) 01:15, 5 August 2022 (UTC)
 * New day-old IP changes wikilink to Farukh and removes the word Armenian:
 * Old sock IP was doing similar changes in the main article:,.
 * New IP creates Az etymology/hydronym section in AA (specifically Karabakh related) article, with "add more" edit summary:
 * Old IP creates similar etymology sections in other AA (Karabakh) articles, with "add information" edit summary:, ,.
 * Both new and the old sock IP address seem to be interested in updating AA (Karabakh) Template pages, where Solavirum has edited extensively. Clear example: Template:Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict (new / old1, old2). Other: / . All pages are war related

Comments by other users

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * While a good report at the time, this IP is now stale. Please re-report if this reoccurs or take to WP:AIV for faster response. Closing. The SandDoctor  Talk 18:21, 7 August 2022 (UTC)

Suspected sockpuppets
Same range from the previous SPI under two different IPs now. Very similar pattern of editing recent events in Karabakh, especially with the first IP. Moreover, IP is doing the same wording as Solavirum in the same article:,. re-reporting per your closing comment from the previous case. ZaniGiovanni (talk) 00:03, 30 August 2022 (UTC)

Comments by other users

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * I didn't see this soon enough to really make blocking worth it on 146, but I did block .56 for vandalism. Please do report ones like these (as in IPs, bring accounts here for sure) to AIV as soon as possible and perhaps here pro forma if you want; you'll get faster response times for sure there . Closing. The SandDoctor  Talk 03:41, 31 August 2022 (UTC)

Suspected sockpuppets
Since the last report (where IP from this range went stale as soon as it was reported), another one from the same range restored an edit of one of the Solavirum's sock IPs (diff), the latter confirmed to be a sock by. I believe a range block is due for 5.134 as it seems to be yet another IP sock. ZaniGiovanni (talk) 15:36, 6 December 2022 (UTC) ZaniGiovanni (talk) 15:36, 6 December 2022 (UTC)


 * @MarioGom the previous case had more evidence linked to Solavirum but the range went stale as soon as reported. You may check the previous case evidence for more diffs. ZaniGiovanni (talk) 12:59, 17 December 2022 (UTC)
 * @MarioGom Seems like one of the IPs from the range which I suspect is Solavirum like the last time is following me and replying on talk pages, , . I asked them to login and create an account if they're not a sock, I doubt this'll happen though. ZaniGiovanni (talk) 17:09, 17 December 2022 (UTC)

Comments by other users

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5.134.48.0/20 is still active. It's strange, this is the first time I am expanding in Talysh-related stuff, and coincidentally a random IP starts editing there shortly after? I don't think this is a coincidence. Solavirum or not, this is definitely not someone who's new to Wikipedia. --HistoryofIran (talk) 14:57, 9 December 2022 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * - 5.134.48.0/20 is a fairly crowded range from Azerbaijan, and it seems different people have edited from it over time. Editing about DS topics in that region is not surprising. Could you provide concrete evidence about the link back to Solavirum? I'm concerned that we start blocking Azerbaijan ranges just because people edits about politics. MarioGom (talk) 12:35, 17 December 2022 (UTC)
 * Nothing linking back to Solavirum has been provided so far. I see the interest overlap (unsurprising for Azerbaijan IPs), and some minor stylistic cues such as repeated use of seperate, as well as . I'll defer to a second opinion. MarioGom (talk) 23:46, 17 December 2022 (UTC)
 * Closing. TonyBallioni (talk) 05:03, 30 December 2022 (UTC)

Suspected sockpuppets
After the last SPI, more concise evidence was requested which I believe is the case now as this IP keeps appearing in AA2, doing similar/same edits to Solavirum and its previous confirmed sock IP. Some recent development of dynamic IP using 5.134 range (the range is automatically detected and clerks might determine the exact range more accurately, starts with 5.134):
 * 1) Restores Az name added by Solavirum.
 * 2) Randomly edits numerous times (diff1, diff2, diff3) in the article created and nominated for GA by Solavirum, all after Solavirum was topic-banned/sock-indeffed.
 * 3) Randomly edits (diff1, diff2, diff3) in the article Solavirum's confirmed sock edited multiple times (diff1, diff2, diff3).
 * 4) Adds/modifies same thing as Solavirum in random Template articles (Solavirum, IP range / Solavirum, IP range)
 * 5) Adds pictures to the article uploaded to Commons by Solavirum. ZaniGiovanni (talk) 22:11, 23 January 2023 (UTC)

Comments by other users

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * It is clear that a substantial amount, probably a majority, of the editing on this range is indeed Solavirum, and this has been going on for a while now. Blocking the /20 for three months. Closing.  Girth Summit  (blether)  07:48, 24 January 2023 (UTC)

Suspected sockpuppets
This IP range, which was being used by Solavirum (and as a result reported in the last SPI and blocked) has been pretty active since the block expired. I have interacted with this range a few times myself, and even after its recent block expired, a lot of their edits have still been reverted. In other words, the disruption is still at large, and the IPs in this range are still too much smart for their own good, displaying the behaviour of one who is pretty familiar with Wikipedia. Recently, they made a barrage of sudden and rapid reverts (like +10, see ), not something your typical IP would do. All the reverts had to do with restoring Azeri names in locations in Armenia, just like the IP did in the last SPI.

Moreover, after their block they also edited at Blockade of the Republic of Artsakh (2022–present), which was heavily edited by the range shortly before its block (eg  ) HistoryofIran (talk) 11:28, 13 June 2023 (UTC)

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * Nothing much to see here; range could have been blocked as a matter of course. Drmies (talk) 00:07, 16 July 2023 (UTC)