World Markets Research Center
Global Insight
November 20, 2008

Increased Crime Levels Registered in Armenia

by Natalia Leshchenko

A top official in the police of Armenian capital Yerevan, Colonel
Ashot Mirijanian, has reported on growing crime figures and lower
detection rates. "A total of 3,857 crimes were registered in Yerevan
during the period in question, which is an increase by 462 compared to
the same period in 2007, while the rate of crime detection in the
cases under investigation made 56.8 percent, against 61.4 percent
reported for the same period last year", he said quoted by Armenia
Liberty.

Significance:Among the general increase in the level of crime, a
streak of politics-related cases is growing salient. In the most
recent of them, a investigative journalist handling corruption matters
Edik Baghdasarian suffered severe injuries in an ambush this week, an
attack that was condemned by both the President and Prime
Minister. General crime is also on the rise, probably due to the
general uncertainties associated with the change of government this
year. Armenia’s distant rural areas were reported as not advisable for
travel in small groups, but more precautions are advisable in the
urbanised capital, too.