Risk of External Interference in Upcoming Elections in Armenia: NSS

The National Security Service (NSS) has released a statement to Armenpress, indicating that various actors are attempting to exert pressure on individuals of Armenian descent and Armenian citizens engaged in economic activities in a foreign country, urging them to support certain political forces participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia.

On the same day, the Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that based on the NSS's statement, a report has been sent to the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia, which has initiated a criminal investigation.

This issue has become one of the most crucial topics of public interest, and various political forces have interpreted the information in different ways. In response to media inquiries, the NSS said:

• The statement on March 10 did not contain details but sparked vigorous discussions among the public from various perspectives. Opinions and assessments were diverse, but the prevailing view was that the NSS's statement should be clear to help people orient themselves and avoid causing panic through such announcements.
• The general lack of specifics in intelligence service releases is usually due to the priority of protecting their own operations, sources, and methods. However, this does not mean that clear operational information has not been shared with and is not being communicated to the competent law enforcement authorities of the Republic of Armenia.
• Regarding claims of panic, the Service aims to inform our compatriots about such evident illegal processes. Within the framework of its legal authority, the Service conducts actions to prevent and counter external risks directed at the Republic of Armenia and its citizens, and this statement should be understood as one of such actions. Therefore, only entities involved in such obvious illegal activities may experience panic.
• Since the statement mentions that pressures are being exerted on Armenian citizens to support certain political forces, please clarify which forces are specifically referred to, as the opposition interprets the statement as preparing the ground for actions against them or attempting to ensure an advantage for the ruling party.
• The Service's mandate is defined by law, which includes the protection of individuals, society, and the state from external threats and the collection and processing of information for that purpose. Therefore, the Service's mandate is not tied to or constrained by the alignment of political forces or the desires of these forces, whether in power or opposition. According to reports, the pressures aim to ensure support for specific opposition forces.
• Your statement prompted the Investigative Committee to initiate criminal proceedings, noting that representatives of various political forces, major businessmen, and criminal authorities exert pressures on Armenian citizens on behalf of foreign special services. Does the NSS have information on whether any foreign special services are involved in this process? Can we say that this situation also involves the risk of external interference in the upcoming elections in Armenia?
• Received information indicates that these actions contain risks of external interference in the democratic elections taking place in our country.
• Please also provide information regarding the actions taken by the NSS after the statement and any new details that have emerged.
• The Service continues to take measures within the framework of its legal duties and, of course, collaborates with all state bodies of the Republic of Armenia.