Over the past seven years, from 2018 to the first half of 2025, 99 police officers in Armenia have been convicted of various crimes, while only three have been acquitted, according to a report by Hetq.am. This alarming statistic highlights systemic issues within the police force, raising serious concerns about public trust and the integrity of law enforcement in the country. The year 2024 saw the highest number of convictions, with 21 officers sentenced, 12 of whom were patrol officers.
Patrol officers, in particular, have been implicated in a range of criminal activities. Some have been suspected of stealing gold jewelry from citizens’ homes while responding to calls, while others have engaged in residential burglaries. Additionally, a significant number of cases involve officers falsifying official reports. Of the convicted officers, 44 were from regional units, while 55 were based in Yerevan, indicating that misconduct is widespread across both urban and rural areas.
A notable case from Shirak Province illustrates the extent of the problem. On December 18, 2023, and January 15, 2024, a junior patrol officer fabricated six reports against two individuals without their involvement or any evidence of wrongdoing, entering these false documents into the information system in just eight minutes. Another officer outdid this by falsifying 26 reports. The Anti-Corruption Court in 2024 imposed fines of 1 million AMD and 3 million AMD, respectively, on these officers. Shockingly, one of these officers is now facing charges for residential burglary in Gyumri, where, in January 2025, they allegedly stole valuables worth 3.34 million AMD, including gold chains, rings, and cash, after breaking into a home with accomplices.
Another disturbing case from 2023 involved a patrol officer in Aragatsotn Province who, between July 2021 and March 2023, committed burglaries in the communities of Karbi and Ohanavan. On March 1, 2023, while attempting another theft, he was spotted by villagers. To evade capture, he stole a hunting rifle from the targeted house, fired shots to scare off pursuers, and attempted to flee, only to be apprehended after injuring himself. He was convicted on 28 counts of burglary, eight counts of attempted burglary, and one count of illegal firearm possession, receiving a sentence of 5 years and 10 months.
Beyond property crimes, police officers have also been involved in drug-related offenses. From 2018 to mid-2025, 80 officers were dismissed for drug use or involvement in illegal drug trafficking, with 18 dismissals in 2024 alone. Of these, 67 were from Yerevan-based units, and 14 were patrol officers. These figures underscore the vulnerability of law enforcement to criminal temptations.
Human rights advocate Zara Hovhannisyan, in an interview with Hetq.am, emphasized that these convictions reflect a lack of awareness among police officers about their role in upholding the law. She argues that the police force must reject criminal behavior and foster a culture rooted in legality and public service. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, led by Minister Arpine Sargsyan, has acknowledged the need for better recruitment processes, rigorous vetting, and ongoing training to address these systemic issues.