Armenia´s crime rate down in 2004

Arminfo
18 Feb 05

Yerevan, 18 February: The number of crimes registered in Armenia
was 10,083 in 2004, down by 990 (or 8.9 per cent) in comparison with
2003. Meanwhile, 84.7 per cent of the crimes were solved, as compared
with 82.7 per cent in 2003. These figures were announced by a collegial
session of the Armenian Prosecutor-General's Office today.

Compared with the previous year, the number of apartment burglaries
has decreased. However, the number of thefts of personal property has
gone up. At the same time, the number of crimes against individuals
was down by 35 cases (1,644 - 1,609). The number of murders decreased
by one (76 - 75), and so did the number of rapes and rape attempts.

As research shows, the most widespread crimes are theft of private
or state property and crimes against individuals, whereas cases of
draft dodging account for 20 per cent of all crimes.

Twelve cases of murder and six attempted murders, as well as 33 cases
of grievous bodily harm remain unsolved.

In general, the year 2004 saw a better situation regarding the rate
of solving economic crimes; 265 such crimes were registered, up by
107 from the equivalent figure in 2003. Of the crimes related to tax
evasion, 86.2 per cent were solved. In all, 29 criminal proceedings
have been instituted over failure to pay taxes.

Meanwhile, Armenia's courts of first instance looked into 3,330
criminal cases against 4,256 people, which is 21 cases and 164 people
more than in 2003.