Crime figures up

RFE/RL has a report on the rising crime figures. Armenian Police admit that they were diverted from the task of tackling crime by the opposition protests in the spring.

According to official statistics cited by the deputy chief of Armenia's Police Service, General Ararat Mahtesian, a total of 5,351 criminal offenses were identified and registered from January through June. The police claim to have already solved 83 percent of them.

40.7 of crimes were against property, and there was an overall 4.5 increase in the number of reported crimes.
Last year a new law came into force which shortened the length of prison sentences. Mahtesian blames this as the main reason for the rise in crime. Also, he complained that police officers had to "maintain public order" at 136 public gatherings staged by the opposition between March and June.

Still, they are happy to report that Armenia is one of the safest countries of the ex-Soviet Union, with figures far lower than Russia or Ukraine,

Posted by Matt on August 05, 2004 | TrackBack | Email to a friend