Crime Rate Decreased by 3.2% in the Republic in 2025, Says Minister of Internal Affairs

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Arpine Sargsyan, held an operational meeting at the ministry on February 7, summarizing the results of the police's operational service activities in 2025. Minister Sargsyan stated that the aim of the summary across all directions of the police's activities is to evaluate achievements, highlight shortcomings, and clarify further actions.

Reports were presented by the Head of the Police, Deputy Heads of Police, each outlining their respective work. Kamo Tsutsulyan, Deputy Minister and Head of Police, noted that effectively combating crime continues to be a priority for the police. Presenting the work done during the reporting period, he emphasized that according to the statistics and research center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the number of crimes recorded in Armenia showed a decrease of 3.2% compared to 2024.

For the first time, the 2025 annual situation was analyzed, allowing for a clearer picture of crime within that specific year. Vardan Vardanyan, Head of the Criminal Police Department and Deputy Head of Police, presented statistics on crimes against individuals noted that in 2025, these crimes decreased by 1,739, or 23.2%. Confirmed murder cases increased by five compared to 2024, with the detection rate of these cases at 100%.

Vardan Vardanyan also noted that residential burglaries decreased by 169 incidents, from 933 to 764, with a significant improvement in detection rates. Preliminary estimates indicate that the material damage caused to the state and community from crimes detected by the criminal police amounted to approximately 25 billion AMD, with initiated criminal proceedings leading to recovered assets.

The law enforcement system continued its fight against illegal drug trafficking during the reporting period, employing a strategic approach to uncovering the chains of drug import and production. In 2025, the volume of seized drugs doubled. As a result of coordinated efforts, 768 kilograms of various drugs were removed from illegal circulation, compared to 426 kilograms the previous year. There was also a positive shift in the fight against illegal circulation of firearms—2,246 units of weapons were seized and voluntarily surrendered, which is 667 more than the previous year.

Vardanyan presented the development of the crime mapping initiative, which allows for a visual representation of crime trends. He emphasized the importance of individual electronic cards for criminal police officers, which provide visibility into crimes solved by individual initiative as well as team collaborations. According to Karen Hakobyan, consistent efforts resulted in a 1,650-case reduction in property-related crimes. Specifically, theft incidents decreased by 957, fraud by 642, and robberies by 55. Additionally, 37 criminal groups involved in car thefts and the illicit sale of stolen parts and license plates were identified.

Police escort divisions ensured nearly 98% compliance with requests to escort detainees and arrestees, significantly improving results from the previous year. The Minister of Internal Affairs instructed to carry out work with minors in educational institutions in a school-family-community police collaboration framework, closely cooperating with the teaching staff. According to her, the positive public perception of the system is directly related to the effectiveness of the fight against crime. Therefore, Minister Sargsyan emphasized the need for particularly active and consistent work in preventing theft of personal property and latent crime.

All heads of community police divisions were instructed to address existing issues daily with subordinate officers and analyze targeted areas of work. Deputy Minister of Police and Head of Traffic Services, Arthur Khudinyan, presented statistics on the detection of administrative violations and crimes, as well as the efforts to improve service efficiency. He noted a significant increase in crime detection rates by traffic service officers, particularly concerning illegal drug trafficking, operating vehicles without a valid driver’s license, and document forgery. In 2025, patrol officers detected 14,747 crimes, an increase of 3,052 incidents compared to the previous year.

Through the work of water patrol officers, approximately 2.5 tons of illegal fish catches were seized, contributing to the protection of the Sevan Lake ecosystem. For the second consecutive year, the traffic service's activities led to a substantial reduction in the number of casualties from traffic accidents. In 2024 and 2025, 95 lives were saved on Armenian roads, despite an increase in the number of vehicles, reaching around 1 million.

Minister Arpine Sargsyan emphasized that the primary challenges in this core area continue to be preventing pedestrians from crossing at unauthorized points, unrestrained driving by drivers, and speeding violations. Only through consistent efforts can a culture of safety and behavioral change be established, she stated. The minister specifically addressed the training of officers, the completed and planned courses.

Minister Sargsyan directed to intensify monitoring of crime detection efforts by enhancing patrol activities in community areas. The commander of the police's patrol force, Hayk Babayan, noted that the officers of this new core division have fully engaged in their operational duties; from November 1 to the end of the year, they detected 146 crimes, with a current total of 217 cases. The significance of continuous development of the positive statistics in crime fighting within the patrol service was emphasized.

Minister Sargsyan, positively evaluating the achievements in crime detection by the patrol service, instructed to continue effective service fully aligned with statutory objectives and to enhance continuous monitoring mechanisms. She highlighted that patrols by the service along various routes should be comprehensive and ensure a more effective police presence on the ground.

The Minister also referred to recent incidents of torture and ill-treatment documented within the system, emphasizing that such occurrences are absolutely unacceptable under any circumstances; they are a red line and contradictory to the principles and values adopted by the ministry. “This is a crucial point since it concerns crossing red lines. The existence of such situations within the police system is absolutely intolerable,” the minister stressed, adding that each such incident will be subject to appropriate and principled response.

Arpine Sargsyan assured that maintaining public confidence in the system is a priority, advocating for continuous work, even in small steps, to strengthen the positive perception of the police. Throughout her comments on the presented reports, Minister Sargsyan provided an overall positive evaluation of the reported indices and emphasized the consolidation of results achieved in 2025.