“Use this app so that the NSS, Cadastre, and Nupaghal do not wiretap you” – Samvel Martirosyan

Information security expert Samvel Martirosyan addressed the issue of citizens' phone calls being wiretapped, stating: “Regarding wiretapping. If you have noticed, a question has been raised about allowing the police to wiretap individuals without referring to the NSS. It’s not that the police didn’t have the ability to wiretap before. The current problem is that the police now have to request this from the NSS, which means that security not only has its wiretapped data but also the police data. This indicates that the NSS is a super-structure in Armenia. This is a security issue in itself. The other issue, which no one wants to solve, is that there is NO mechanism for public oversight. Under the veil of secrecy, anything could happen. Today, we can only rely on the high moral standards of the security leadership. Let me reiterate a few words about all this. And, in general, speak on the phone only when dictating how many kilos of carrots you need to buy. In other cases, communicate via the Signal app to avoid being wiretapped by the police, NSS, Cadastre, DAHK, or Nupaghal.”