Only the State Should Have the Right to Conduct Sociological Surveys During Martial Law, Says Artsakh Prime Minister

During martial law, private entities are conducting sociological surveys and publishing their results, which are allegedly used or can be used against the Republic of Artsakh and its people. This was stated by Artsakh Prime Minister Gurgen Nersisyan.

“After the military operations and human and territorial losses, the internal normal course of life in any state is disrupted, the citizen-state connection is broken, and a high level of distrust towards state bodies emerges. Hostility and hatred develop among individuals. This situation creates fertile ground for the adversary, who in such circumstances attempts and carries out operations suggesting information assaults aimed at undermining and discrediting state bodies, state institutions, and public officials in the eyes of society, ultimately aiming to weaken the country from within and create chaotic and panic situations and moods in internal life,” he stated.

In 2022 and 2023, a number of sociological surveys were carried out by private entities in Artsakh aimed at measuring the authority, recognition, or trust levels toward state bodies and various officials. It was evident that especially after the war, state bodies and public officials in Artsakh could not enjoy high authority; however, the results of these surveys have also been publicized, making them accessible to our enemies, with all their predictable negative consequences.

Whether this was done knowingly or not is another question, but it is undoubtedly a phenomenon that is unacceptable. Today, similar sociological surveys are also being conducted, with various questions being posed to participants, whose allegedly pursued objectives are indefinite or questionable, and the publicizing of the results could negatively affect the internal and external security of the Republic of Artsakh. This should also draw the attention of the law enforcement agencies of Artsakh.

Considering the above concerns, measures will be taken in the near future to subject this process to legal regulation. The right to conduct sociological surveys during martial law should only belong to the state, and physical or legal persons should only be allowed to conduct sociological surveys with the permission and order of state bodies, and the results should be exclusively managed by the state.