How Viva-MTS Cards Ended Up in the Hands of Azerbaijanis: 'Zhogh(hour)out'

'Zhogh(hour)out' newspaper reports that its investigation into a crucial security matter continues: how did the cards of 'Viva-MTS', one of Armenia's mobile operators, come into the possession of employees of Azerbaijan's special services, who have been calling our citizens with Armenian phone numbers and threatening many?

It should be recalled that on July 24, 2020, just months before the war, the National Security Service of Armenia announced that employees of the special services of the Republic of Azerbaijan were using phone numbers from various Armenian mobile operators and calling citizens of Armenia under the pretext of conducting surveys (purportedly to carry out social inquiries in Armenia), especially to obtain intelligence regarding the situation in the Armed Forces.

In particular, such phone calls have been recorded from the Armenian mobile numbers 094-39-75-95 and 093-52-72-08, which are registered under the 'Viva-MTS' code.

'Zhogh(hour)out' newspaper inquired with the National Security Service of Armenia whether the sale of the phone cards had been legal. 'It is a fact that when purchasing a phone number, the individual presents their ID, and their details are filled out. Did the employees of 'Viva-MTS' check to whom they were selling the phone number, and under whose name those phone numbers were registered?' Despite this simple question, the National Security Service of Armenia provided an ambiguous response, merely repeating the previous answer: 'Neither ‘MTS Armenia’ nor other mobile operators operating in Armenia sold phone numbers to employees of Azerbaijan's special services, Azerbaijani citizens, or individuals holding Azerbaijani passports.'

However, how Azerbaijanis became the owners of 'Viva-MTS' phone numbers remains unclear. After our inquiries to 'Viva-MTS,' we received the same response, stating that they had not sold phone numbers to Azerbaijanis. The issue remains more relevant and dangerous; in that case, how did the Azerbaijani special service become the owner of a 'Viva-MTS' card?

The National Security Service of Armenia does not clarify this, raising many questions. To be continued...

For more details, refer to today’s issue of the newspaper.