Restrictions Will Be Implemented, Says Alen Simonian

We have an incident where Azerbaijani hackers have breached an Armenian user’s account and attempted to spread panic. This was stated by the Vice Speaker of the National Assembly, Alen Simonian, during a recent conversation with journalists.

He noted that during a meeting of the ruling party, they discussed reducing restrictions on media outlets, but assured that the government is currently so open that talking about or worrying over any restrictions is unwarranted. “Censorship relates to the coronavirus, and the government informs the public about all relevant information within minutes. Therefore, I believe that the concerns are somewhat exaggerated. Armenia is among the countries that are the most open in terms of information,” he said.

When asked if there are plans to implement stricter measures in the near future, Simonian replied that if any tightening is to take place regarding anything, it should be justified. “We need to be cautious, but at the same time, think about how we will continue our lives. Restrictions are implemented and will be carried out as necessary, but that is not the desired method we should aspire to,” he stated.