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On October 15, by the decision of the NA Standing Committee on Defense and Security parliamentary hearings were convened. At the core of the debate were the issues and problems related to crime situation, structure, dynamics, accounting, detection, the real results of reforms during 2019-2024 in the Republic of Armenia.

Deputies, representatives of power structures, law enforcement system, political society, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) participated in the parliamentary hearings.

In his opening speech the Committee Chair Andranik Kocharyan presented the goal and the motivation of holding hearings, noted that at the basis of the decisions are the development of recent period in terms of the operative situation in our country, its governance, reforms and its efficiency. Speaking about the motivations of holding the hearings, Andranik Kocharyan reminded the attendees that the Committee accepted as a basis also the RA Prime Minister’s statement in response to the MPs’ questions on the operative situation in the country that the organization of the hearings in the National Assembly, then the reference to the issue at the sitting of the Government is desirable.

As the Committee Chair assessed, the debate with such representatives is aimed at the assessment of the security, operative situation in our country, as a result of which the further works at the executive and legislative levels will be formed.

The RA Minister of Internal Affairs Vahe Ghazaryan presented to the participants of the hearings comprehensive analytical information on the progress of crimes recorded in our country, the tendencies of the increase, the conditions promoting them, as well as the undertaken measures during the last five years.

According to the rapporteur, since 2020 the Police had overloaded agenda conditioned by the announced emergency situation, then – martial law, besides extensive works have been carried out in proper maintenance of public order during various mass events and ensuring public security.

Presenting the crime progress, the Minister recorded that in recent years the increase in crime was on average 11.1%, reducing by 0.7%. “In eight months of 2024, decrease in crime had already been recorded by 4.2%, being 24.567 cases out of 25.637,” Vahe Ghazaryan informed.

In recent years, the increase of especially serious crimes was on average 58.0 %: in 2019 – 284, in 2020 – 296, in 2021 – 350, in 2022 – 880, in 2023 – 1678, which mainly was conditioned by especially with cases of large-scale drug smuggling, their sale, as well as sudden death.

According to the Minister of Internal Affairs, the increase in serious crimes was on average 13.4%. The analyses showed that about 80% of murders were committed on domestic purposes. It was noted that the thefts decreased by 10.8% on average.

The Minister documented that the announced amnesties have also certain impact on the increase in crime. “The analyses done documents that after every amnesty increase in crime is recorded. For example, after the announced amnesty, in November of 2018, during 2019-2021 1152 out of the 4976 persons later committed crimes, 242 out of them - twice and more,” Vahe Ghazaryan underlined.

During the current year, the number of the road accidents decreased by 325, and the number of the injured – by 380. In order to increase the capacity of streets and intersections of Yerevan, to avoid traffic jams, changes were made in a number of crossroads and streets on the proposal of the Police changes were made in a number of crossroads and streets, which, according to the rapporteur, also promoted the decrease of the accident level.

The minister also spoke about the latent crimes and a general statistical picture of their share having essential influence on the increase of registered crimes. “During recent five years, due to the more systemized and principled fight against illegal drug trafficking, the increase in disclosure of crime cases was on average 46.6%. During the reporting period, in 2023-2024, only the disclosed 62kg out of 220 kg of drugs was synthetic,” Vahe Ghazaryan underlined, adding that a large amount of drugs is imported from the neighbouring countries to the republic, especially from the Meghri border.

The rapporteur expressed conviction that in parallel with the development of the information technology sector, the Internet has also become a source of drug sales. It was noted that in recent years, about 120 Internet platforms being engaged with illegal turnover of drugs were blocked.

As Vahe Ghazaryan observed, the Patrol Service had its positive impact on the crime detection process in the republic. During the year 2023, 226 cases of weapons, 168 cases of hooliganism, 140 cases of physical abuse, 131 cases of theft, 80 cases of illegal tree cutting, 44 cases of bribery and other cases were found out.

According to the Minister, in recent years the efficiency of detecting crimes has stable increase.

In response to the questions of the deputies and the participants of the hearings, the rapporteur referred to the especially serious crimes, the rates of illegal drug turnover, the steps being taken in the fight against crime and the efficiency of the preventive measures. The problems of the road traffic system and the work to be done were presented. A question was voiced on the procedure of conducting service examinations on using inadequate force by the police officers and on the thefts of the vehicles and spare parts. The increase in trust towards the law enforcement system and the efficient fight against criminal sub-culture was emphasized.

Vahe Ghazaryan informed that the Police is at the phase of reforms and assured that as a result of those reforms, there will positive move. The Minister presented the structural changes designed by those reforms. Touching upon the initiated steps to eliminate traffic jams in the capital, Vahe Ghazaryan underlined that the created new division is engaged with the regulation work of the road traffic rules, a large amount of work has been done in Yerevan and in the marzes, regularly there is a consultation with the relevant structures, and despite the increase of vehicles in considerable amount, there is certain traffic jam unloading in Yerevan.