Minister Calls Russian TV Assessment of Hrazdan’s Firebird AI Center “Politicized”

YEREVAN — Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry and Artificial Intelligence, Davit Tadevosyan, has described as “politicized” an assessment aired by Russian television channel Vesti regarding the potential use of the Firebird AI center in Hrazdan for intelligence purposes.

“I think it is a politicized assessment,” Tadevosyan told reporters.

Asked whether the center could potentially be used for intelligence purposes, the minister responded with an analogy involving automobiles, noting that a vehicle can also be used to commit a crime, but that does not constitute grounds for prohibiting the use of automobiles.

Tadevosyan invited those raising concerns about potential risks to submit specific information to the ministry in writing.

“Any such speculation can be made, but it is politicized and not serious. If there are any facts, present them, and we will gladly sit down, discuss them and understand the situation,” Tadevosyan said.

Asked about the extent of U.S. investment in the project, the minister said that an association of Armenian financial institutions had participated in financing it.