US-supported cyberlab development temporarily halted, says Armenian ministry of internal affairs

The US-supported project on developing a cyber laboratory in the Armenian law enforcement system has been temporarily halted due to Washington’s latest decisions regarding foreign assistance, the Armenian authorities told Armenpress.

US President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day pause in US foreign development assistance on his first day in office in 2025, pending assessments of efficiency and consistency with U.S. foreign policy.

In response to a query from Armenpress the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia elaborated on the directions of cooperation envisaged in the Armenia-United States Strategic Partnership.

Armenpress: During the January 16 press conference, Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan said that the Armenia-United States Strategic Partnership includes development of cooperation with the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Please present the directions of cooperation planned under the partnership.

Ministry of Internal Affairs: The Republic of Armenia and the United States have developed productive and targeted bilateral cooperation which was formalized as a Strategic Partnership on January 14, 2025 in Washington, D.C., with the signing of the Strategic Partnership Charter between the Republic of Armenia and the United States. In terms of the Ministry of Internal Affairs the document includes the following directions:

Support for Ministry of Internal Affairs reforms and modernization aimed at Armenia’s efforts:  Such support is expected to include police education and other measures to provide for public safety, to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for abuses, and to combat transnational crime and corruption; address common transnational criminal threats such as terrorism, organized crime, trafficking in persons and narcotics, money laundering and cybercrime.

The United States plans to continue to support Armenia as it provides assistance to displaced persons and refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenpress: Are there any concrete programs or actions that have been outlined as part of the partnership?

It is important to note that the Armenia-United States Strategic Partnership Charter is not a special action plan, this is a framework document of strategic nature which notes the directions where the parties intend to develop their relationship based on common strategic interests. No program or action stemming from the partnership is currently envisaged.

Armenpress: How is it planned to ensure U.S. support for Ministry of Internal Affairs reforms and capacity building?

Ministry of Internal Affairs: It will be possible to address the types of US support towards Ministry of Internal Affairs system reforms and capacity building after developing a clear action plan.

Armenpress: Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan had also said that US partners had given preliminary approval to the initiative of opening a cyber laboratory in the police system. What goal and functions will this cyber laboratory have? What is the format of funding and technical support and at what phase is the process?

Ministry of Internal Affairs: Within the framework of combating cybercrime, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia attaches importance to the initiative of creating a cyber laboratory and in this regard a preliminary agreement has been reached with the American side. At this moment this work has been temporarily halted because of the latest developments in the US pertaining to foreign programs.