In the first half of 2026, 573 criminal proceedings were initiated based on reports submitted by Armenia’s National Security Service regarding suspected crimes, including indications of high treason, espionage and disclosure of information containing state secrets.
The NSS said it had detected and thwarted numerous serious and particularly serious crimes and undertaken necessary operational and investigative measures to uncover relevant offenses. These included preventing and neutralizing intelligence-subversive, sabotage and terrorist plans and activities being prepared against state security, sovereignty, Armenia’s Armed Forces and other military structures by foreign intelligence services, illegal armed formations, criminal groups, organizations seeking to forcibly change the constitutional order or usurp power, as well as individuals.
A total of 22 criminal proceedings were initiated over crimes against state security, including four involving high treason, one attempted high treason and espionage, one attempted espionage, one involving high treason, espionage, preparation to usurp power and preparation to overthrow the constitutional order, five involving espionage, two concerning disclosure of state-secret information by persons who had obtained it illegally, and five involving disclosure of information containing state secrets.
Another 44 criminal proceedings were initiated over crimes against public security. Of these, one concerned preparation of a terrorist act, two involved spreading false information about terrorism, and three concerned granting, obtaining or maintaining the highest status in a criminal hierarchy, participation in or recruitment into a criminal subculture group, and appealing to a member of such a group or a person holding the highest status in a criminal hierarchy.
As a result of measures undertaken to protect Armenia’s state border and ensure border security, 197 criminal proceedings were initiated over detected crimes against the order of governance. Of these, 97 involved illegally crossing the state border, attempting to do so or complicity in illegal border crossing, including 56 involving the use of forged documents. Another 83 concerned forging documents, stamps, seals or forms, or selling, producing or using forged documents, stamps, seals or forms, while three involved organizing illegal migration.
A total of 44 criminal proceedings were initiated over crimes against the lawful circulation of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their preparations, precursors, and highly potent or toxic substances. Of these, 28 involved the illegal circulation or sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their preparations, equivalent substances or analogues, or their derivatives. Twelve involved smuggling narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their preparations, equivalent substances or analogues, or their precursors, while four concerned illegal circulation without intent to sell.
Another 33 criminal proceedings were initiated over crimes against constitutional rights and freedoms. Of these, 23 involved receiving and/or giving electoral bribes, three involved obstructing or coercing the holding of or participation in an assembly, three concerned obstructing the exercise of voting or referendum rights, the work of electoral commissions, or the exercise of rights and duties by persons participating in elections or referendums. Two involved coercion to campaign or refrain from campaigning, or otherwise obstructing campaigning, while two concerned violations of the prohibition on charity during a referendum or election.
A total of 115 criminal proceedings were initiated over crimes against public service interests, property and economic activity. Of these, seven involved giving and/or receiving bribes, 19 concerned abuse or exceeding of official powers or influence associated with those powers, 10 involved official forgery, 12 concerned illegal entrepreneurial activity, four involved money laundering, and three concerned creating, organizing or managing a financial pyramid scheme.
