Today, a ceremonial session of the Collegium was held to mark the 12th anniversary of the establishment of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia and the IC Employee’s Day. 

The RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the session.

The session was attended by the Deputies Chairman of the Investigative Committee, members of the Collegium, heads of investigative subdivisions, investigators, and administrative staff.
Congratulating the staff of the Investigative Committee on their professional holiday, Artur Poghosyan stated:

Honorable Prime Minister,

Dear colleagues of the Investigative Committee,

I am pleased to welcome you and congratulate us all on the 12th anniversary of the establishment of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia and the IC Employee’s Day.

This celebratory occasion is first and foremost an opportunity to report to the public on our work and present our upcoming tasks and the main priorities of criminal policy.

I believe that the Investigative Committee, as the largest preliminary investigative body, has demonstrated its viability over this period. As a law enforcement institution, it has consistently stood by the RA citizens and the state, protected the violated rights and legitimate interests of victims, the public interest, and, ultimately, ensured compliance with the legislative requirement to uphold and strictly enforce the rule of law.

Of course, there are also shortcomings and deficiencies within the Investigative Committee. However, we draw lessons from them, analyze their causes, and continually improve our professional skills and capabilities. 

The Investigative Committee is currently working to introduce and implement artificial intelligence in line with modern requirements. In particular, the pilot project carried out by a working group has yielded significant results. Due to it, in the near future, it will be possible to review, within a matter of minutes, the content of conversations recorded over several months through covert investigative actions. This will significantly reduce investigators’ workload and improve the efficiency of criminal proceedings. The same tools will also enable translation services, making it possible to save substantial financial resources.

Over the first nine months of 2026, the Committee continued implementing personnel reforms. A total of 384 people applied to participate in the announced recruitment competitions. I believe that the steady increase in the number of applicants seeking investigator positions demonstrates that the institution has become significantly more attractive. I would also like to note that young professionals make up the majority of investigators within the system (with those having up to five years of professional experience accounting for nearly half of the current staff).

In the current year, alongside personnel reforms, institutional and structural changes aimed at improving the effectiveness of investigation have also continued actively, with approximately 70 orders issued by me in this regard.

In particular, to ensure the proper organization of preliminary investigation, improve its effectiveness, and reduce the workload of investigative units, the Second Garrison Investigative Unit was established by separating it from the Eighth Garrison Investigative Unit of General Military Investigative Department of the Committee. Ararat Province was designated as the territorial jurisdiction of the newly established division.

The International Cooperation Department was reorganized and established, resulting in a significant expansion of cooperation between the Investigative Committee and law enforcement agencies of various countries. As a result of these efforts, on September 10 of this year, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Investigative Committee and the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China, elevating cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries to a qualitatively new level.

In addition, a number of internal legal acts have significantly improved the effectiveness of investigation of various types of crimes and strengthened oversight mechanisms relating to offences committed against minors and cases of domestic and family violence. These acts have also established additional criteria for ensuring that criminal proceedings are resolved within a reasonable time.

Thus, the aforementioned efforts and changes, together with ongoing staff recruitment, have once again yielded significant and tangible results this year. As a result, during the reporting period, there was a substantial increase in the number of criminal proceedings concluded through procedural completion and in the number of persons involved as accused, while the number of criminal proceedings that had remained under investigation for an extended period decreased.

I would like to cite several statistical figures that undoubtedly testify to the work carried out and the achievements made. In particular, during the first nine months of this year alone, 15,492 criminal proceedings involving 16,220 persons were referred to court with bill of indictments (compared to 9,625 criminal proceedings involving 10,335 persons during the same period in 2025). Thus, the number of criminal proceedings referred to court during the first nine months of this year increased by 5,867, or 60.9%. Moreover, the number of criminal proceedings referred to court during the first nine months of 2026 exceeded the corresponding figure for the whole of 2025 by 781.

During the reporting period, 13 billion 229 million 177 thousand AMD of property damage caused within completed and ongoing criminal proceedings was recovered.

In addition, as a result of evidentiary and procedural actions conducted within a number of criminal proceedings,  in 2026, a number of properties owned by the State or local communities have been returned to public ownership or are in the process of being returned. Notable examples include 16 plots of agricultural and other-purpose land, with a total area of 21.12 hectares and a market value of 341.686.000 AMD which were returned to the community of Mrgashen in Kotayk Province. In connection with criminal proceeding under investigation in Lori Regional Investigative Department, the process of returning six kindergarten buildings, with an estimated market value of 89.469.889 AMD in total, is underway.

Furthermore, there are numerous cases in which, based on evidence obtained in the course of criminal proceeding investigated in the Committee, and following a criminal-law assessment of a specific individual’s conduct, the relevant information is forwarded to the RA Prosecutor General’s Office. As a result, lawsuits are filed with the courts seeking the return to the State or the respective community of land plots or other property belonging to State or community ownership. 

I do not wish to burden my speech with statistics; however, I would like to note that this year, work has continued to solve high-profile murders committed in previous years that attracted significant public attention. As a result, a number of high-profile cases involving aggravating circumstances have been solved. Particularly:

• Twenty-seven years later, the murder of Artsrun Margaryan, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and National Security of the RA and Head of the Internal Troops Directorate, has been solved. Notably, the criminal proceeding had been terminated on September 20, 1999, on the grounds that no crime had been committed.
• Nearly three years later, the person who ordered the murder of Soghomon Vlasyan has also been identified. Former Armenian National Assembly MP Argam Abrahamyan has been charged in connection with the case and has been taken into custody.
• Nearly four years later, the case of Inga Aghajanyan’s murder was solved which was initially investigated on suspicion of driving a person to suicide and causing grave bodily damage. However, through investigation it was revealed that, after striking the victim on the head, the couple threw her out of a window, resulting in her death.
• The murder case of A. Ye. has also been solved which was initiated on sudden death. However, as a result of large-scale investigative measures, it was established that Ani Yeghoyan’s sister had murdered her by poisoning her, adding heavy metals to her food and water.

Currently, approximately 40 criminal proceedings concerning high-profile murders committed in previous years are under review by the Investigative Committee. Active investigative actions are being conducted within these cases, and in the near future, the public will witness progress in solving these crimes.

In this context, I would like to note that, as of September 30, 2026, 245 criminal proceedings were initiated in the Investigative Committee concerning incidents related to the parliamentary elections held in the Republic of Armenia on June 7, 2026 . Public criminal prosecution was initiated against 162 individuals A total of 34 criminal proceedings involving 55 individuals were referred to court with bills of indictment. 

Seven criminal proceedings concerning the criminal subculture were referred to court with bills of indictment against 15 defendants.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to our colleagues in law enforcement agencies who supported the preliminary investigation and stood alongside the investigator throughout the criminal proceedings. This effective cooperation undoubtedly played a significant role in ensuring the proper conduct of the criminal proceedings and addressing the objectives of the preliminary investigation. I would therefore like to thank the Prosecutor’s Office, the National Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Revenue Committee, and the Anti-Corruption Committee.

Honorable Prime Minister, I would like to once again express my gratitude to You personally and to the RA Government for the trust you have placed in our institution, for improving the social guarantees of the Investigative Committee’s staff, and for your continued support for the needs essential to ensure the Committee’s smooth and effective operation.

To conclude my speech, I would once again like to congratulate my colleagues on the occasion of their professional holiday. I am confident that, through your unwavering dedication and daily hard work, you will continue to serve our country. Approach the work of an investigator as a mission, because it is you who are entrusted with upholding the rule of law and countering any criminal conduct that undermines the legal security of the state. I am confident that, thanks to your efforts, not only will the deeply rooted negative stereotypes that have persisted for years be overcome, but the widespread sense of injustice in society will gradually give way to trust in justice and the administration of justice.

Thank you”. 

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan congratulated those present on the occasion of Investigative Committee Employee’s Day and thanked them for their work.

Referring to the passage in the speech of the Chairman of the Investigative Committee concerning the solving of the murder of Artsrun Margaryan, the Prime Minister emphasized that this demonstrates a new level of quality and consistency in the work of the Investigative Committee. “I would like to thank the Investigative Committee staff members and investigators who worked on this case, and You as well, Mr. Poghosyan.”

In his speech, the Prime Minister noted that, during this period, disclosures had also been made in solving the murders of Vahram Khorhoruni and several other cases. He emphasized that the use of modern technologies makes solving crimes easier, but the results in the aforementioned cases reflect the Investigative Committee’s continued progress in its work. “I also thank you for acknowledging that the Government is sparing no effort. Indeed, I cannot recall a single issue raised by the Investigative Committee before the Government that has not been resolved.”

According to the Prime Minister, solving these cases also helps foster among citizens a sense that they are living in a just country. “The fundamental issue here is not only the individual cases, but also public trust in state institutions and the state itself. Both today and yesterday, the greatest concern people have, and their greatest demand and expectation, has been justice. So, how do we foster a sense among citizens that they are living in a just country and a fair environment? This is, incidentally, no simple task, because there are no straightforward, formulaic solutions. It is a profound socio-psychological and philosophical challenge, but also a very concrete operational one, and a significant part of addressing this challenge lies precisely in the investigation of criminal cases. I hope that what you are saying, Mr. Poghosyan, truly means not merely that we have solved one, two, or four more cases, but that we have entered an entirely new phase in which the problems we faced in the past no longer recur.”

Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that the work of the Government, the Ministries, and the Investigative Committee will never be flawless. However, he noted that the issue is not one of perfection, but rather the extent to which their efforts are directed toward achieving justice.

“As a state, we must take special care to protect the rights of those who face limitations in their ability to defend their own rights,” the Prime Minister said, adding that every citizen must feel protected by the state, by the law, and by the legal system.
In this context, the Prime Minister emphasized that the Investigative Committee bears significant responsibility in this regard, and that this responsibility will continue to grow as public expectations rise. Cases dating back 10, 15, or even 20 years, which people believe were not properly solved, are now generating, growing public expectations that they will finally be resolved.

In his speech, the Prime Minister also made the following observations: “There are indeed cases that reach a dead end on their own, making it impossible to solve them. This is not a problem unique to Armenia; it exists all over the world. This is precisely why we must ensure that new technologies and capabilities are introduced, including in the work of the Investigative Committee. In any case, I believe, and hope it is evident, that the Government and I personally greatly appreciate the work being carried out. We are doing everything within our power to ensure the Investigative Committee’s continued and sustainable development, because the effectiveness of the Committee’s work depends on this.

We are doing everything possible to ensure that investigators and employees of the Investigative Committee have the most reliable social security system possible. Of course, we will continue this policy. At the same time, we must understand that these two processes are closely interconnected, because, to a large extent, the work of the Investigative Committee also affects the financial capacity of the Republic of Armenia and its state budget. I am referring not only to the recovery of damages within specific criminal proceedings, but also to the fact that, for economic activity, it is essential that potential investors know that, should a problem arise, they will be able to defend their rights and operate on an equal footing with their competitors. Naturally, this issue does not concern the Investigative Committee alone; it also involves a number of other government agencies. Nevertheless, I want us to recognize the interconnectedness of these processes and ensure that, in our daily work, we never lose sight of the problem we are trying to solve. In my view, all of us are working to foster, in the minds of the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, a social and psychological perception of justice and the rule of law in Armenia. We want people to believe that they live in a just country and to feel that the likelihood of becoming victims of injustice is steadily decreasing.”

Summing up his speech, the Prime Minister noted: “it should be stated that the trends reflected in the statistics of criminal proceedings presented ultimately demonstrate that people are turning to the Investigative Committee with greater confidence. An increase in the number of criminal proceedings does not always indicate a rise in crime; sometimes, it reflects growing public trust, as people become more confident in approaching law enforcement agencies, particularly the Investigative Committee.” 

Once again congratulating the staff on the occasion of Investigative Committee Employee’s Day, the Prime Minister wished them success in carrying out, to ever-higher standards, their state, moral, and human mission of establishing justice and upholding the rule of law in Armenia.

On the occasion of the RA Investigative Committee Employee’s Day, the following officials were awarded:

The Prime Minister’s Commemorative Medal: Davit Manucharyan, Head of the Fourth Department of General Department for Investigation of Economic Crimes and Smuggling,  Karapet Hambardzumyan, Head of the Third Department of the same General Department; and Kima Avdalyan, Press Secretary of the Investigative Committee. A valuable gift: Arman Nshanyan, Head of the Department for Investigation of Crimes against Property. The Prime Minister’s Letter of Appreciation: Volodya Muradyan, Head of the Syunik Regional Investigative Department, and Davit Voskanyan, Deputy Head of Department for Investigation of Cases on Special Assignments.

Artur Poghosyan introduced the newly appointed Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee, Vaghinak Martirosyan, at the ceremonial session of the Collegium.

The Deputies Chairman of the Investigative Committee, heads of general departments and departments presented the work carried out during the 9 months of 2026. 

By orders of the Chairman of the RA Investigative Committee, a number of employees of the Committee were awarded medals, a commemorative watch, received letters of appreciation, and were granted the class ranks prescribed for their positions, as well as extraordinary class ranks. 

By order of the RA Minister of Defense, Suren Papikyan, Director of the RA National Security Service, Andranik Simonyan, the RA Minister of Internal Affairs, Arpine Sargsyan, Chairman of the RA Anti-Corruption Committee, Artur Nahapetyan, Head of the RA State Protection Service Artur Gasparyan, a number of investigators were awarded medals, commemorative watches, and certificates of honor in recognition of their conscientious and effective performance of professional and official duties, achievements in carrying out their responsibilities, and in connection with Employee’s Day of the Investigative Committee.

At the conclusion of the ceremonial session, an oath-taking ceremony was held for 81 newly appointed investigators.

In his closing speech, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee issued instructions and noted that, following the results of this Collegium session, personnel changes and reassignments would be made.