Alex Martirosyan, Author at Բազմակողմանի տեղեկատվության ինստիտուտ

Armenia Country Threat Landscape Report 2023

Armenia is notable in the context of digital security for several reasons. It has experienced state-sponsored cyberattacks, including the use of NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware during the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. The geopolitical landscape is further complicated by the involvement of global cyber powers such as Russia, Iran, and Israel, with the latter providing services for Azerbaijan. These nations have been known to actively operate within Armenia, exacerbating the already tense cyber environment.

This report outlines the threats faced by civil society and journalists in Armenia, offering valuable insights for cybersecurity experts. Major technology companies like Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple have all issued reports highlighting various cyber-attacks targeting Armenia. These reports underscore the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data and infrastructure.

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Why Are There No Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh?

This report examines the situation for ethnic Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh for the period starting with the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020 and through the Azerbaijani military offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023 and its aftermath. Through an international fact-finding effort that included hundreds of witness interviews and open-source data, the analysis aims to answer why there are no ethnic Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh as of May 2024. It documents how people in Nagorno-Karabakh were intentionally subjected to regular attacks, intimidation, deprivation of basic rights and adequate living conditions, and forced displacement. The evidence demonstrates that the Azerbaijani state acted upon a comprehensive, methodically implemented strategy to empty Nagorno-Karabakh of its ethnic Armenian population and historical and cultural presence.

About the Report

This fact-finding report was jointly prepared by Freedom House, International Partnership for Human Rights, Democracy Development Foundation, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – Vanadzor, Protection of Rights without Borders NGO, Law Development and Protections Foundation, and Truth Hounds. Media Diversity Institute conducted the open-source investigation and verification. Talin Hitik provided substantial support editing the summary and the larger report. Anoush Baghdassarian made a significant contribution to editing several sections of the larger report. The methodology and questionnaires were prepared by Democracy Development Foundation, International Partnership for Human Rights, and Truth Hounds. The fact-finding mission was made possible with the support of Open Society Foundations and Freedom House. The fact-finding mission was coordinated by the Democracy Development Foundation.

The report is available on the Freedom House website.

Report summary

Full report

Armenia: Surveillance Bill Threatens Rights

Source: Human Rights Watch

(Yerevan, October 31, 2024) – The Armenian government’s bill for the mandatory installation of video surveillance systems with 24-hour police access throughout the capital, Yerevan, is unjustified and interferes with privacy and other rights, Human Rights Watch said today.

The bill, which passed its first parliamentary review in June 2024, requires private entities in Yerevan to install the cameras and provide police with live feed and access to recordings on demand. Officials have also indicated they intend to use artificial intelligence (AI) video analytics to monitor the recordings.

“Widespread, indiscriminate video surveillance would inevitably lead to unjustified intrusions on privacy and cannot be defended as a measure necessary to improve public security in a democracy,” said Giorgi Gogia, associate Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Mass surveillance in public spaces would have a chilling effect on fundamental civil and political rights.”

Armenian authorities posted the bill on the government’s website in December 2022, but the government only greenlighted it in April 2024. Parliament is expected to vote on the bill before the end of the year.

Initiative for Media Quality and Resilience

The project empowers media organizations to manage and perform professionally, independently and sustainably; supports them to develop more reader-relevant, analytical, reliable and responsible content; and ensures participation of civil society, media and public authorities in the progress and reformation of the media ecosystem.

For implementing this project, MIC leads a consortium, the members of which are Yerevan Press Club, Media Diversity Institute and International Media Support (Denmark).

The project builds the audience trust in the media by introducing robust mechanisms for self-regulation that are based on clear ethical principles, including transparency and accountability. Actions are implemented to promote media literacy, thereby giving audiences the confidence to navigate an increasingly confusing and overloaded information space.

The project offers journalists and media opportunities for capacity-building that enable them to acquire new skills through formal training, then apply these skills to practice by developing and distributing public interest content. It also helps them to operate safely by introducing measures to enhance the security of their digital platforms and ensure the physical well-being of their staff.

The components of this 3-year-long (2024-2027) project are:

schools for media managers and editors-in-chief;
fostering fact-checking in newsrooms;
production grants and mentoring;
strengthening and promoting the Media Ethics Observatory through awareness-raising campaigns and capacity building;
study tour to Denmark-based self-regulation bodies;
newsroom training on editorial guidelines and internal policies;
new version of the Reporting Diversity Manual;
trainings on the coverage of “urgent” issues;
physical, psychological and digital safety training and policy documents for media outlets;
media advocacy actions;
journalism awards;
media content analysis, media literacy-related content (Media.am) and events.

The budget of the project is 530,000 EUR, of which 400,000 is provided by the European Union, and 130,000 is the co-funding of the USAID-funded Media Program in Armenia, which is implemented jointly with Internews.

The “Initiative for Media Quality and Resilience” project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Media Initiatives Center in collaboration with Yerevan Press Club, Media Diversity Institute – Armenia, and International Media Support.

Media Diversity Institute – Armenia Joins Inaugural Cohort of the Spyware Accountability Initiative

Leading funders and companies announce over $4 million in support of efforts to address the harms of spyware on civil society across the globe.

March 6, 2024 – Media Diversity Institute – Armenia (MDI Armenia) announced today that it has been awarded a grant from the Spyware Accountability Initiative, whose mission is to grow a global field of civil society organizations who are advancing threat research, advocacy and accountability to address the use and trade of spyware.

The Ford Foundation’s Dignity and Justice Fund, fiscally sponsored by the New Venture Fund (NVF), launched the Spyware Accountability Initiative with a founding contribution by Apple and additional support from Open Society Foundations, Okta for Good, and Craig Newmark Philanthropies. Grantees of the Dignity and Justice Fund’s Spyware Accountability Initiative were recommended to the board of NVF by the Fund’s advisory board, which consists of members of the Ford Foundation leadership team. An independent, global technical advisory committee advised on the Fund’s grantmaking strategy. Over the next five years, the Spyware Accountability Initiative will support a growing community of researchers and advocacy organizations investigating, exposing, and bringing accountability to the global mercenary spyware trade.

The MDI Armenia is proud to join the Spyware Accountability Initiative’s inaugural cohort of nearly two dozen grantees, half of which are based in the Global South, where the harms of spyware are most pronounced. The Initiative’s first wave of grants focuses on three key areas: international advocacy and litigation; investigations and research; and Global South regional field building and organizational strengthening.

About MDI Armenia

Media Diversity Institute – Armenia is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that seeks to leverage the power of the traditional media, social media and new technologies to safeguard human rights, help build a democratic, civil society, give voice to the voiceless and deepen the collective understanding of different types of social diversity.

To learn more, visit the homepage of the Spyware Accountability Initiative.

Armenia Digital Threat Landscape: Civil Society & Media

This report was prepared by Internews’ Internet Freedom & Resilience team under a stream of work that strengthens civil society organizations, journalists, and other human rights defenders’ ability to detect, analyze, and build resilience to digital attacks through localized expertise in threat analysis and incident response.

It is intended to provide an overview of the digital threats faced by civil society and media organizations in Armenia and provide guidance for digital safety experts supporting this community.

This report was written in close collaboration with CyberHub-AM, a Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) for Armenian civil society, including NGOs, Human Rights Defenders, Activists, journalists, and independent media. They serve as a contact point and help desk for the above-mentioned groups in Armenia and collect, analyze, and anonymously and responsibly share incident data and indicators with the global threat intelligence community where appropriate.

Digital Security Workshop Call

Date/Place:

25.11.202, Shirak region, Gyumri City – All for Equal Rights Foundation (address: Gyumri City, 7/33 Garegin Nzhdeh Street)
26.11.2023, Lori region, Vanadzor City – «NGO Center» Civil Society Development NGO (address: Vanadzor City, 6/1 Khorenatsi Street)

About the project and the workshop:

The Media Diversity Institute is excited to announce a comprehensive, hands-on workshop on digital security management for civil society organizations, media organizations, and other relevant stakeholders based in Shirak and Lori regions. This event is a part of the “EU4LabourRights: Increasing Civic Voice and Action for Labour Rights and Social Protection in Armenia” project and is aimed at equipping participants with the necessary tools and knowledge to identify and manage digital security risks, safeguard their organizations, and handle IT management effectively.

This one-day workshop, led by digital security and media experts, will provide insights into organizational and personal digital security, risk management, IT management, and much more.

“EU4LabourRights: Increasing Civic Voice and Action for Labour Rights and Social Protection in Armenia:” Project is implemented by OxYGen Foundation, Socioscope NGO, “Asparez” Journalists’ Club NGO, Armenian Progressive Youth NGO, Media Diversity Institute – Armenia in cooperation with Protection of Rights without Borders NGO, and Eurasia Partnership Foundation. The Project is funded by the European Union.

Registration for the Digital Security Workshop is open until November 20th. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your digital security expertise. The event will be held:

25.11.202, Shirak region, Gyumri City – All for Equal Rights Foundation (address: Gyumri City, 7/33 Garegin Nzhdeh Street)
26.11.2023, Lori region, Vanadzor City – «NGO Center» Civil Society Development NGO (address: Vanadzor City, 6/1 Khorenatsi Street)

Workshop details:

Introduction to cyber security, the most common threats and attack vectors in Armenia
How to protect personal information on the Internet (theoretical and practical tasks)
How to protect passwords: password management systems, two-phase security
Secure communication: PGP, Protonmail, Tutanota, secure communication software (Signal, Wire)
Phishing attacks and protection methods and tools
Strategic issues of digital security for the organization (Practical work)

Why Attend?

To understand and apply risk management within your organization.
To learn about the roles in IT management and assess employee competencies.
To discover how to protect your organization’s online presence and personal digital information.
To use the most up-to-date digital security tools and best practices.

Registration and Questions:

To register for the Digital Security Training Workshop, please fill out the online registration form by the deadline of November 20th. For any questions regarding the workshop, you are encouraged to contact the MDI representative Alexander Martirosyan at [email protected].