Crime rate in Armenia increased by 24.4% in 2022 - Prosecutor General's Office

YEREVAN, May 3. /ARKA/. Some 37,612 crimes were reported in Armenia in 2022, of which 21,604 were committed in the capital Yerevan, Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan said at Wednesday's parliamentary session.

She said compared to 2021, the crime rate in the country increased by 24.4% or 7,367 cases. According to her, compared to 2021, the number of little gravity crimes grew by 19.3% or 2,831 cases.

Crimes of medium gravity grew by 29.8% or 2,383 cases, grave crimes upped by 14.2% or 633 cases, while especially grave crimes surged by 151% or 530 cases.

She emphasized that 484 cases of the total number of especially grave crimes were cases of sudden death, which in the past were not counted as crimes.

‘Consequently, without cases of sudden death, in 2022 there were 396 especially grave crimes, by 46 cases or 13% more than in 2021," she clarified

The Prosecutor General noted that the absolute majority of crimes (84.1%) were crimes of little and medium gravity.

"In 2022, there was an increase in the number of crimes against the person, public order and safety, public health and economic activity. And, conversely, the number of crimes against property decreased," she said.

The Prosecutor General reported that the number of murders last year fell to 58 from 60 in 2021; murders in Yerevan decreased by 8 cases (by 30.8%), in the regions their number increased by 6 cases (17.6%).

"Most homicide cases were triggered by domestic violence and interpersonal conflicts," she noted.

Also in 2022, computer-related thefts increased by 280 cases (up 154.7%), while their detection rate dropped to 5.5% from 16.3% in 2021.

"So far, six 'thieves in law' have been prosecuted, and cases involving three more are under investigation," she said.-0-