No official should show any restraint, regardless of the position or rank of the offender.

24-07-2026 10:18 Armenia Press release

Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan summarized the work of the Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the first half of 2026 in the Ararat region on July 18.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs reports that the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Chief of Police Kamo Tsutsulyan, as well as representatives from the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Police, were present.

“The acting head of the Criminal Police of the Ararat regional department presented the work done during the reporting period, addressing the dynamics of specific types of crimes.”

In the first half of 2026, the department recorded 324 cases of crime. Serious and particularly serious crimes decreased by 15.3% and 12.5%, respectively. Crimes against state authority, service, and management increased. Crimes committed with firearms decreased by 60%. The number of residential burglaries decreased by 40%, while fraud cases decreased by 72.7%. The community police department in Artashat recorded 602 cases of crime during the reporting period, which is a 9.3% decrease compared to the same period last year.

The number of solved crimes amounted to 551, which is 91.5% of the total. The decrease in the number of crimes is attributed to a reduction in crimes against individuals. Crimes against public safety, public order, and the health of the population increased, while crimes against property decreased by 39.3%.

The community police department in Ararat recorded 153 cases of crime, with 140 being solved. The effectiveness of solving crimes was 91.5%. The decrease in cases is attributed to a reduction in thefts and fraud. The number of crimes against property decreased by 75%.

During the six months, out of the 238 recorded crimes in the community police department of Vedi, 215 or 90.3% were solved.

The total number of crimes has decreased, which is attributed to a 59.4% reduction in crimes against property. Crimes against individuals, as well as those against public safety, public order, and the health of the population, have increased.

The community police department in Masis recorded 652 cases of crime, with 593 being solved. The effectiveness of solving crimes was 91%. The increase in the number of crimes is mainly attributed to the rise in crimes against public safety, public order, and the health of the population.

The patrol service officers in the Ararat region have solved 20.5% more cases of crime compared to the same period last year. A total of 37,624 reports were compiled for various administrative violations, which is an 11% increase compared to the previous year. In the Ararat region, the number of traffic accidents and injuries has increased compared to the same period last year, while the number of fatalities has decreased.

The head of the state protection department of the Artashat police, while presenting the department's activities, noted that alongside measures aimed at maintaining public order and ensuring public safety, the officers also solved several crimes and ensured reliable protection of the protected facilities.

Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan thanked the staff for their responsible work, emphasizing that the recorded results should be strengthened through continuous and consistent efforts.

The minister issued directives in several areas. Arpine Sargsyan specifically demanded to increase the effectiveness of night services by organizing joint operations involving different units.

Addressing the fight against fraud, the minister instructed to significantly intensify operational and investigative work to uncover both individual cases and possible organized schemes.

Minister Sargsyan inquired about cases involving minors or crimes committed against them and instructed to strengthen preventive work.

The importance of organizing meetings in schools, awareness-raising activities, and continuous cooperation between the police and schools was emphasized, so that work could be carried out according to a pre-developed and coordinated program from the start of the academic year.

For each case of domestic violence, it was instructed to ensure a rapid, immediate, and professional response, excluding the underestimation of reports and a formal approach.

At the same time, the necessity of ensuring the continuity of operational measures for crimes requiring immediate resolution was emphasized.

In the fight against economic crimes, it was instructed to intensify work, including uncovering illegal use of subsoil, exploitation of sand mines, and possible abuses in the sector.

Specific attention was given to the fight against the illegal circulation of weapons and drugs. The minister noted that it is necessary to intensify both detection and prevention efforts, keeping possible trafficking routes and criminal connections in focus.

Regarding crimes against sexual freedom and inviolability, the minister demanded a strict and zero-tolerance response, ensuring immediate reaction to each report and full disclosure of all circumstances of the incident.

It was also instructed to carry out a more consistent fight against criminal authorities, those carrying criminal subculture, and related individuals, excluding any manifestation of their influence and illegal behavior.

At the same time, the importance of conducting continuous preventive work with individuals in hostile relationships was emphasized to prevent possible conflicts and severe consequences in advance.

The minister also addressed the moral and psychological state of the staff, emphasizing the importance of a healthy working environment, discipline, and personal responsibility of the leadership.

Regarding the patrol service, the necessity of proper organization of briefings before shifts was emphasized. The minister demanded to be principled and absolutely intolerant towards violations, while excluding biased or selective treatment of drivers.

The minister addressed the increase in crimes caused by violations of traffic rules and instructed to strengthen preventive work, paying special attention to the most risky road sections and regularly recorded violations.

Arpine Sargsyan emphasized that no officer should show restraint in exercising their powers, regardless of the position or rank of the violator. The requirements of the law should be applied equally to everyone.

Summarizing, the minister instructed to set clear targets in all the mentioned areas, strengthen inter-departmental cooperation, and ensure the consistent implementation of directives.”

* This text was automatically translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Noyan Tapan | Press release