According to the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly constitutional law, the RA Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan presented the report on the activity of the RA Prosecutor’s Office in 2022 for debate at May 3 sitting. It consists of 11 main sections. In particular, the Prosecutor General referred to some of the priority areas for the Prosecutor’s Office: the fight against corruption, the protection of state interests, claims submitted to the Anti-Corruption Court for the purpose of confiscation of illegally obtained property, the delay in the investigation of criminal cases, or, in other words, “delayed justice.” She presented the crime statistics recorded in the republic last year: during 2022, 37,612 cases of crime were recorded in Armenia (30,245 cases in 2021), out of which 21,604 were in Yerevan (16,438 cases in 2021). Compared to the previous year, crime cases increased by 7367 or 24.4%.
The absolute majority of 37,612 cases of crime, 84.1%, are minor (21,281 cases or 56.6%) and moderate severity (10,371 cases or 27.6 %) crimes.
In 2022, crimes against people, public safety, public order, population health and economic activity have increased.
Property crimes decreased in 2022 (15,149 in 2021, 13,902 in 2022).
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The number of murder cases, excluding sudden death cases, was 58 in 2022 compared to 60 last year, that is, 2 or 3.4 % less. The number of murder cases in Yerevan decreased by 8 or 30.8 % and increased by 6 or 17.6 % in the regions.
During the financial year, 25 cases of crimes regarding the criminal subculture were recorded, compared to 14 of the previous year. The number of reported cases of drug trafficking increased by 743 or 76.3 % to 1,717 compared to 974 cases in 2021.
In 2022, compared to 2021, an increase of 354 cases or 34.2 % of crimes against economic activity was recorded.
During 2022, compared to the previous year, a 20.2 % increase in crimes against state power, state service and government system was recorded.
1858 cases of corruption crimes were registered. Compared to 2021, the cases of corruption crimes decreased by 66 or 3.4 %.
Speaking about the sphere of protection of state interests, the RA Prosecutor General noted that during 2022, 212 investigations were carried out and 428 offenses were found.
Anna Vardapetyan presented details of the work done in the field of confiscation of property of illegal origin. In 2022, the relevant department of the General Prosecutor’s Office received 25 materials on the data found as a result of material and operational investigative measures in 50 criminal cases regarding the ownership of property of 84 persons of possible illegal origin.
Anna Vardapetyan also responded to the deputies’ questions regarding the cases of confiscation of property of illegal origin, expansion of the capabilities of the Department of Confiscation of Property of Illegal Origin of the General Prosecutor’s Office, extortion of drams by deception in cases of online trade, modern forms of fraud in online trade, disclosure of corruption crimes, increase in drug addiction, police reforms etc.
The NA Vice President Hakob Arshakyan inquired at what phase the state-level crime disclosure investigations are.
“Data on the cases of October 27 and March 1 were in the draft of the report, but they were not included in the final version of the document,” the RA Prosecutor General said. Anna Vardapetyan noted that investigative actions are being carried out in both proceedings and assured that the information about the work carried out by the Prosecutor’s Office will be regularly reported to the Parliament and the public.
The deputy Zaruhi Batoyan inquired about the methodology of conducting statistics on cases of domestic violence and violence against women. Anna Vardapetyan noted that they will review the format of conducting statistics with their colleagues.
According to Anna Vardapetyan, there are not few cases when murder is a manifestation of a domestic violence and, unfortunately, it turns out that the law enforcement agencies were aware of unfriendly relations in the family.
“Doesn’t the decrease in disclosure along with the increase in drug addiction mean that police reforms, if not failed, then are being implemented in the wrong direction,” the deputy Artur Khachatryan asked. The RA Prosecutor General did not agree that the reforms have failed. According to her, the crime concerning illegal drug trafficking has changed. It was mentioned that the qualitative change in crime does not mean that the reforms have failed.
“Reforms are being carried out in different directions, including the format of introducing the patrol service. And, yes, the patrol service as a sector of reform has succeeded,” Anna Vardapetyan underscored.
National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia
