Cyber lab to be established in Armenia in collaboration with  international partners

ArmInfo.  On September 12, Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan held a meeting with the staff of the Department for Combating Cybercrime at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia, according to the press service of the law  enforcement agency.

Vardan Vardanyan,  Head of the Main Department of the Criminal Police  and Deputy Chief of Police, presented the overview of cybercrimes  recorded in the republic this year and the efforts to combat them.   them.  Hayk Mkrtchyan, Head of the Department for Combating  Cybercrimes at the RA Police Headquarters, presented the work done by  the department.  Based on operational information received by the  department, 3 criminal groups were identified incvolved in computer  thefts through fake investment platforms. Eighteen individuals were  charged by the investigative body. Approximately 740 million drams of  damage caused to the state have already been recovered.

As a result of studies, monitoring of open sources on the Internet  and telecommunications applications, a group of individuals was  identified. They used Telegram accounts to purchase citizens'  passport data, electronic phone numbers, electronic wallets, gaming  accounts, and personal accounts of mobile applications from banking  companies operating in Armenia. They managed these accounts to commit  computer thefts and frauds through phishing websites.  The identities  of 49 individuals operating 62 channels involved in the illegal sale  of drugs via Telegram have been revealed. As a result of searches  conducted within the framework of criminal proceedings initiated  based on the factual information received, a large amount of drugs  and ammunition were discovered, and 3 individuals were arrested.

The Cybercrime Department currently continues to work closely with  several leading international companies, as well as 24/7 national  contact points of the member states of the Convention on Cybercrime.   This cooperation ensures the  process of exchanging operational data  via a direct channel, electronic evidence from various criminal  proceedings and information on newly emerging types of cybercrime.  Also, the Cybercrime Department has continued to strengthen  cooperation with international partners and major companies  in the  information technology sector.  The Minister of Internal Affairs  expressed gratitude for the work done and highlighted a number of  directions and gave instructions.

Arpine Sargsyan emphasized the importance of expanding the  cooperation  with international partners, other law enforcement  agencies and police services. The importance of working with  international cryptocurrency companies to combat cybercrime and  corruption crimes was noted. The need for close work with mobile  operators was stressed, instructing to put the partnership on an  institutional basis.  Arpine Sargsyan also touched upon the creation  of the Cyber Laboratory, towards which work is currently being  carried out with international partners.

In order to prevent crimes, the Minister instructed to activate  awareness-raising activities aimed at increasing citizens' legal  awareness, as well as to create a Telegram platform through which  citizens will be presented with the mechanisms of criminal activity  and the rules of conduct for avoiding them.  Issues related to the  regular development of the capabilities of the department's  employees, as well as software and technical equipment, were also  discussed.