Armenian Interior Minister warns crime statistics are exploited for political

Crime statistics have recently been frequently exploited for political purposes, distorting public perceptions of internal security, Armenian Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan warned on Friday.

She made the remarks at a parliamentary defense and security committee hearing on her ministry’s 2025 performance report under the government’s 2021-2026 program.

The minister emphasized that security has always been and remains a key agenda topic.

“Security is a matter of concern for all of us, and it is no coincidence that both internal and external security are constantly addressed and discussed. I would like to particularly warn that crime statistics in recent periods have especially often been exploited as a tool for political manipulation, even becoming a topic in pre-election debates and undermining internal security stability,” Sargsyan said.

She noted that the public is often presented with an exaggerated picture of crime, while law enforcement agencies act based on real data, guided by the goal of ensuring citizen safety.

The minister also addressed criticisms of law enforcement work, noting that such critiques often intensify during election periods and correspond both to the logic of hybrid threats and to international experience.

Sargsyan recalled that the Government Program includes institutional reforms in the police system, including the formation of the Police Guard and the introduction of new preventive tools.

“With care and diligence, we both record new developments and pursue solutions to other issues that we ourselves have identified, being closer to the sector,” the minister said.