NSS Urges to Refrain from Statements Undermining the Honor of Officers

The National Security Service (NSS) has issued a statement in response to a post by Arthur Sakunts on Facebook. The statement reads as follows:

“On December 7, 2019, human rights defender A. Sakunts posted a statement on his Facebook page that crossed all acceptable boundaries in terms of inappropriate emotional outburst. On one hand, he used expressions that belittle and slander the honor and dignity of the employees of the NSS of the Republic of Armenia, while on the other, he misled a broad segment of the public by presenting false information on certain facts that do not correspond to reality.

Thus, regarding the concerns expressed in the publication about the assets of senior officials of the NSS of the Republic of Armenia and their related persons, we find it necessary to remind that they are legally included in the list of officials required to submit declarations, whose property and income are reflected in these declarations. Hence, information about the property owned by them and their related persons is open and available to anyone.

Therefore, we can state that not only the activities of the senior officials of the NSS of the Republic of Armenia but also their property and income, as well as those of related persons, like other declaring officials, are under the scrutiny of members of society.

However, if anyone, in this case also the author of the material, has additional information regarding the property and income of senior officials of the NSS of the Republic of Armenia, which may indicate an apparent crime, we suggest filing a report about the crime in accordance with the law, including to the NSS of the Republic of Armenia. In that case, we are ready to respond promptly to the mentioned allegations; otherwise, it is not the NSS that should deal with the validity of the declarations of senior officials.

Regarding the inquiries made by the NSS of the Republic of Armenia before the revolution concerning the property of opposition political and civic society figures, including the author of the publication and persons associated with them, the author should have been well aware of the legislative mandates and functions assigned to the NSS of the Republic of Armenia. Specifically, within the framework of ensuring the security of the Republic of Armenia, the safeguarding of constitutional order, combating terrorism, including international terrorism, money laundering, and preventing and exposing such transnational criminal manifestations, various international organizations, their representatives, and cooperating individuals who receive financial resources from foreign countries regularly appear in the NSS's radar, regardless of the name, type of activity, and other circumstances.

It does not require further justification that in every country, including many donor countries, international financial flows are monitored by security services for security reasons, and this should also be clear to the author of the material, who should not repeatedly exploit the name of an entity that ensures the right of everyone, including the author of the publication, to live safely and express themselves due to the hard work it entails.

Regarding the unfounded accusations addressed to the acting head of the NSS regarding the appointment of close associates to positions within the NSS system, we once again urge the author of the material to become familiar with, read, and re-read the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, and understand that working in national security agencies is a type of military service that, among other things, implies strict adherence to the rules of rank and discipline.

Perhaps this is a general statement. However, we find it necessary to remind that, as a special service, there are stricter criteria for employment and advancement within the NSS, regardless of the degree of intimacy. Regarding personal connections, we inform those concerned that if the relevant requirements for a special service employee are met, and in the absence of legal restrictions, indeed, a person with close ties may not be deprived of the opportunity to serve in national security bodies.

Finally, we call on everyone to exercise caution and maximum restraint when speaking about the activities of the NSS and the personnel serving in national security bodies in the future. They should avoid emotionally charged outbursts stemming from a sense of inadequacy, weigh their statements carefully, not engage in self-assertion at the expense of discrediting a crucial governmental institution, and, of course, adhere to the rules of civilized ethics befitting a member of civil society.”