Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan visited Gegharkunik Province to summarize the performance of the ministry's police force for the first half of 2026. The meeting was attended by Chief of Police and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kamo Tsutsulyan, alongside other representatives from the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Police.

During the session, the Head of the Gegharkunik Regional Department of the Criminal Police presented the work carried out during the reporting period, addressing the main crime trends in the province. In the first half of 2026, the department registered 130 crime cases, showing an increase in crimes against economic activity but a decrease in crimes against individuals and particularly grave crimes. Notably, the detection rate for cases of murder, attempted murder, and intentional infliction of severe health damage reached 100 percent, with an increased detection rate based on suspect involvement.

The heads of the Gegharkunik regional divisions of the Community Police also delivered their reports. In the Gavar division, 169 crime cases were registered, which is 70 more than the previous year, with 150 of them solved for a detection efficiency of 88.8 percent, particularly in uncovering latent crimes. The Chambarak division recorded 108 crime cases, with increases in crimes against individuals, public safety, public order, and public health, achieving a 73.1 percent detection rate with 79 cases solved. Meanwhile, the Martuni division saw crime cases increase by 46.5 percent compared to the previous year, registering 227 cases and solving 209, with a rise in crimes against public safety, public order, and public health.

In contrast, the Sevan division of the Community Police recorded a 5.3 percent decrease in crimes compared to the same period last year, solving 243 out of 270 registered cases to reach a 90 percent detection rate. A decrease in crimes against individuals was also observed in the Vardenis division, which solved 111 out of 126 registered cases for an 88.1 percent detection rate, alongside an overall decrease in crimes against property, state authority, public service, and the order of administration.

Additionally, officers of the Gegharkunik Province Battalion of the Patrol Service detected 126 crime cases and filed 41,945 protocols for various administrative offenses, up from 37,807 the previous year. Although road traffic accidents and fatalities decreased, the number of injured persons rose. There was a significant increase in registered traffic violations, particularly using a mobile phone while driving, smoking, driving without a seatbelt, speeding, and transporting children without car seats. The head of the Sevan Protection Division of the Police Guard also noted a sharp increase in crime detection, attributing it to effective service organization, rapid response capabilities, and active prevention.

Minister Arpine Sargsyan rated the overall work as satisfactory and thanked the police officers for their positive indicators across both Criminal and Community Police divisions. She also expressed gratitude for their reinforced service alongside rescuers during the Vardavar celebrations, which prevented any serious incidents with severe consequences. Turning to public safety, the Minister noted that the detection and seizure of illegally held weapons and ammunition remain key priorities, urging the police to maintain consistency.

The Minister specifically emphasized that crimes committed by or against minors must be treated as a priority in all regional subdivisions, requiring systematic coordination across all police units and closer cooperation with schools to step up preventive work. She also demanded a significant increase in domestic violence prevention work within regional subdivisions to ensure a proper response to every single report. To combat crimes involving information technology, she called for a more effective fight against computer theft, cybercrimes, and online fraud using modern tools.

Noting that Gegharkunik is a busy tourist region, the Minister highlighted the need to focus on preventing crimes against public order, responding quickly to violations, and applying strict legal measures against violators. She praised the Patrol Service for reducing traffic accidents and fatalities, and commended the water patrols on Lake Sevan for their efficiency in detecting illegal fishing. She stressed that preventive efforts should focus not just on detecting illegally caught fish but on establishing controls that prevent fish from being taken out of the lake in the first place. Finally, she instructed officers to keep crimes against state authority and public service under close focus, while activating measures against economic crimes, including illegal mining, stressing that the recorded positive indicators must serve as a foundation for more proactive, systematic, and results-oriented work.