NSS Conceals Number of 'Undesirable Persons', Reports 'Factinfo'

The National Security Service (NSS) is concealing the number of individuals recognized as 'undesirable persons' in Armenia during 2022. This was reported by 'Factinfo'.

It is noted that throughout 2022, it became known that the entry of several individuals, including those of Armenian descent, into Armenia was prohibited. As of now, it is officially known that among those recognized as undesirable persons in Armenia are members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau, co-chair of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) Murad Papazyan, chairman of the Armenian Cause in the Netherlands Masis Abrahamyan, and his daughter, member of the ARF in the Netherlands, Syunen.

Recently, it also became known that entry into Armenia is prohibited for Konstantin Zatulin, Chairman of the CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Compatriots Relations Committee of the Russian Federation, and Margarita Simonyan, Director of 'Russia Today'. In Zatulin's case, the individual was informed about being recognized as an undesirable person via a letter received from the head of the External Relations Department of the National Assembly of Armenia.

Considering recent developments and public interest, 'Factinfo' has sent a written inquiry to the NSS to determine how many individuals have been recognized as undesirable persons in Armenia in 2022, whose entry has been prohibited. However, the agency declined to provide information, citing the right to access the database of undesirable foreigners under Article 8, Part 6 of the Law on Foreigners of Armenia, and Resolution No. 115 N of the Armenian Government dated January 25, 2008, is only granted to the office of the President of Armenia, authorized state bodies in the field of national security, authorized state bodies in the police sector, authorized state bodies in foreign relations, border control authorities, as well as courts and bodies conducting criminal prosecution in cases provided by law.

Interestingly, the media specifically requested only numerical data, indicating that if the NSS cannot provide names, they are welcome to disclose just the number of individuals whose entry has been prohibited in Armenia, including how many of those are of Armenian descent. Yet, the NSS irresponsibly responded with an unclear citation, demonstrating arbitrary behavior, and refused to provide any information.

It is noteworthy that according to the law and resolution mentioned by the NSS, there is no provision that grants the right to access the database to the Prime Minister’s office. Therefore, a question arises as to how information about Murad Papazyan being recognized as an undesirable person was provided to the cabinet of Nikol Pashinyan, which subsequently provided clarifications regarding the decision.

Thus, the NSS appears to have shared information with a third party, Nikol Pashinyan's office, regarding Murad Papazyan, for which it had no right, while refusing to disclose it to the media. If that information has already been leaked, it should be accessible to everyone, or a criminal case should be initiated against Pashinyan's office for disclosing information regarding Papazyan without his consent.

Regarding the inquiry about Konstantin Zatulin and Margarita Simonyan being recognized as undesirable persons and their entry into Armenia being prohibited, the NSS also declined to provide information, citing violation of personal and family privacy. According to the media, the information regarding the undesirability status was disclosed by Zatulin and Simonyan themselves, with Simonyan even urging Armenian law enforcement to inform her about the grounds for being recognized as an undesirable person.