THE THREAT POSED BY MAPS

Article 142 of the NKR Constitution envisages that the state
carries out public authority in territories which are de facto under
the jurisdiction of the given country. However, the provision is
occasionally neglected by Armenian companies and agencies.

Information security expert Vahram Mirakyan says the approach stems
from the lack of information and ideological politics, which according
to the expert, may have a negative impact on the psychology of soldiers
serving in combat positions.

“For example, a soldier serving in Kashatagh or Akna, can find out
the areas are included in the territory of Azerbaijan on the map. He
may immediately pose a logical question: am I protecting an Azeri
territory?” Mirakyan told A1+. “A soldier always serves better when
he definitely knows the purpose of his mission.”

He says some companies, including Ardshininvestbank CJSC (Bank for
Industry, Construction and Investment Closed Joint-Stock Company),
Unona-tour, Arca, the Football Federation of Armenia, pro-government
newspaper Republic of Armenia, use maps with incorrect borders on
their websites.

The list also includes the website of Karabakh Telecom CJSC which
posted a non-existent map of Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region.

Vahram Mirakyan does not accept the terms “liberated territories” and
“security zone” which are largely circulated in media outlets. He
thinks the terms can be acceptable in military terminology but not
by public.

“When they say “liberated territories,” they put an artificial
difference between the territories of Artsakh. Actually, the whole
territory of Arsakh is liberated, starting from Karvachar, Akna and
ending with Kovsakan [ZE~Yngilan],” he said.

Information security expert says there is no need to differentiate
between Armenia and Artsakh as Artsakh was and still remains the
strongest province of Armenia. The two should be taken collectively
as wholeness and not as separate political units.