RA Ministry of Internal Affairs: Crimes involving use of firearms 60%  down 

ArmInfo.  The number of crimes involving the use of firearms in the Ararat region decreased by 60% in the first half of 2026. The press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia reported this to ArmInfo. 

The ministry, citing the acting head of the Ararat Regional Criminal  Police Department, presented the dynamics of certain types of crimes  during the reporting period.

According to him, the department registered 324 crimes in the first  half of 2026. "The number of serious and especially serious crimes  decreased by 15.3% and 12.5%, respectively. At the same time, the  number of crimes against state authority, service, and administrative  order increased. The number of crimes involving the use of firearms  decreased by 60%. The number of burglaries decreased by 40%, and  cases of fraud by 72.7%," the department representative reported.

According to the data presented, the Artashat Community Police  Department registered 602 crimes during the reporting period, a 9.3%  decrease compared to the same period last year. 551 crimes were  solved, accounting for 91.5% of the total number registered.  According to him, the decline in the overall crime rate is due to a  reduction in the number of crimes against individuals. At the same  time, as the acting head of the criminal police department noted, the  number of crimes against public safety, public order, and public  health increased, while crimes against property decreased by 39.3%.  "The Ararat Community Police Department registered 153 crimes, of  which 140 were solved. The detection rate was 91.5%. The decrease in  crimes is primarily due to a decrease in thefts and fraud. Property  crimes decreased by 75%. Over the past six months, the Vedi Community  Police Department registered 238 crimes, of which 215, or 90.3%, were  solved. The overall number of crimes decreased due to a 59.4%  decrease in property crimes. At the same time, an increase in crimes  against individuals, as well as against public safety, public order,  and public health, was observed," the police officer continued.

The Masis Community Police Department, according to him, registered  652 crimes, of which 593 were solved. The police representative  clarified that the detection rate was 91%. He explained that the  increase in crimes was primarily due to an increase in crimes against  public safety, public order, and public health.  "Ararat Region  Patrol Police officers solved 20.5% more crimes than the same period  last year. 37,624 reports were drawn up for various administrative  offenses, an 11% increase compared to last year. The number of  traffic accidents and casualties in the Ararat Region has increased,  but the number of fatalities has decreased," the official noted.

Summarizing the meeting, Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan issued a  number of instructions on various topics, instructing the officials  to establish clear targets for all of them, strengthen cooperation  between departments, and ensure consistent implementation of these  instructions.

It is noteworthy that in recent months, Armenian society has been  shaken by a number of incidents involving the use of firearms,  including fatal ones.