All Citizens Will Be Recorded, They Will Be Monitored: Samvel Martirosyan

This law places almost all of Yerevan under surveillance by cameras. This was stated by information security expert and media specialist Samvel Martirosyan, commenting on the draft law adopted in the first reading by the National Assembly.

"On one hand, the state mandates that these cameras be installed by private entities and that they be provided with 24/7 online access to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This means that centralized control will be maintained over the entire area continuously. It is clear that from a security standpoint, this can yield very significant positive qualitative results, but we must always remember that enhancing security often leads to a restriction of civil liberties. Therefore, it is important to maintain a balance," he noted, emphasizing that one should not expect a sudden decrease in crime rates just because these cameras were installed.

The media expert pointed out that there is absolutely no guarantee that these cameras will be managed correctly from a technical standpoint: "We have seen with our own eyes that Azerbaijanis have invaded people’s homes using cameras. Now that number is going to multiply tenfold. Measures are being taken from a security standpoint without ensuring that security is, in fact, secure. The next issue is that all citizens will be recorded, and some individuals within the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be monitoring them. The question always arises: who will control the controllers, where are the guarantees that the state will not use this for political purposes, and will not monitor journalists to uncover their sources. Furthermore, what guarantees exist to prevent corruption risks, meaning a bureaucrat might use this to find their wife's lover. There have been cases in Armenia where recordings from private cameras have been obtained by private individuals and publicized," emphasized Samvel Martirosyan.

It should be noted that a parliamentary package has been adopted in the first reading, which proposes to install cameras at the entrances and other sides of cafes, restaurants, pharmacies, hotels, trading places, and gas stations larger than 50 square meters and to make this a legal requirement.