Ceremonial board session was held today on the occasion of the 11th anniversary of the Investigative Committee and the Day of the Officer of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia.. The RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the Chairman of the RA Investigative Committee Artur Poghosyan, Deputies Chairman of the RA Investigative Committee, Board members, heads of the investigative subdivisions, investigators and others took part in the session.   

Congratulating the officers of the Investigative Committee on the occasion of the professional holiday, Artur Poghosyan noted:

Honorable Mr. Prime Minister,

"I am pleased to welcome you and to congratulate all of us on the occasion of the 11th anniversary of the establishment of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia and the Day of the Officer of the Investigative Committee.

This day is yet another opportunity to reassess the role and significance of the Investigative Committee as a law enforcement body in strengthening criminal justice, the rule of law, internal legal security, and the fight against crime in the country, as well as in organizing and conducting preliminary investigations into alleged crimes, within the scope of its jurisdiction defined by the Criminal Procedure Code.

First, allow me to highlight the work and achievements of the Investigative Committee over the past nine months of this year in connection with this festive day, as well as to outline our upcoming tasks and priorities. 

As the largest pre-investigation body, the Investigative Committee, within the scope of its assigned functions, has ensured the supremacy of the law and the unwavering implementation of legislative requirement. This is evidenced by the fact that, within a short period of time, numerous criminal proceedings of public significance, some of which had been under investigation for years, have already been brought to their logical conclusion and are currently undergoing judicial proceedings.

In the first nine months of 2025, the Committee has carried out tremendous work aimed at increasing the effectiveness of criminal proceedings, reducing investigation timeframes, protecting the violated rights and legitimate interests of victims, recovering damages caused to the state or community, and ensuring the enforcement of the principle of the inevitability of criminal liability.

To achieve this goal, significant personnel reforms have been implemented as a priority -  appointments, dismissals, and transfers. In just the first nine months of this year, around 127 individuals holding autonomous positions have been dismissed, and the Investigative Committee has been replenished with knowledgeable, highly professional, and ethically upright staff, which made it possible to achieve substantial results. Specifically regarding the leadership, I can mention that since my appointment, 3 Deputies Chairman of the Investigative Committee have been appointed, along with 4 Heads of General Departments, as well as 67 officials included in the senior group of positions. Importantly, these appointments have been made based first and foremost on the candidates’ professional and moral qualities, their integrity, and, of course, their willingness to serve the state.

The work aimed at replenishing autonomous positions has continued subsequently. Within a short period, 5 competitions were announced, with 402 applicants submitting applications to participate. Around 104 individuals who passed the competition stage have already been appointed as investigators.

Subsequently, efforts were made to fill vacant positions in central offices, particularly in the general departments. As a result, more knowledgeable and experienced investigators from regional subdivisions or divisions were transferred to central subdivisions.

Improving the effectiveness of the work primarily required an institutional approach, which needed to be regulated through internal legal acts. In this regard, necessary discussions were organized, a board session was convened, the causes of delays in criminal proceedings were analyzed, shortcomings were identified, clear mechanisms were developed, and existing regulations were improved to prevent delays in criminal proceedings and to enhance the efficiency of the preliminary investigation. As a result of these discussions, I issued and put into effect 68 orders and directives aimed at increasing the effectiveness of criminal proceedings as well as improving supervisory mechanisms.

Particularly, by Order No. 77-L of the Chairman of the Investigative Committee, an amendment was made to the order on approving the evaluation and reward criteria for individuals holding autonomous positions in the Committee. According to the amendment, as a priority in the evaluation procedure of investigators’ work, criminal proceedings related to grave and particularly grave crimes, as well as corruption-related and economic crimes, were defined in the procedure for evaluating the work of investigators.

In addition, during the board session held on December 2, 2024, clear criteria and deadlines were established regarding the instructions issued within criminal proceedings, based on the degree of severity, and the scope of responsible individuals. According to this, immediate procedural supervisors are now required to issue written instructions to investigators, to conduct specific procedural and evidentiary actions, with clearly defined deadlines. After the expiration of the deadline, necessary mechanisms were established for extending or not extending the mandate requirement.

Another important internal legal act was adopted on April 11, 2025, through Directive No. 106-A, which concerns the submission of weekly reports on the daily work performed by investigators, and the preparation of daily summaries, which reflect the specific investigative or procedural actions conducted by the investigator during the day in relation to a particular criminal proceeding, including the duration of each action. This allows to analyse the investigator’s workload and level of engagement. "These summaries are submitted on a weekly basis to the immediate supervisors, who subsequently consolidate them in General Department on Special Assignments.

The next important change relates to the directive aimed at preventing the suspension of criminal proceedings solely on the basis of the appointment of an expert examination, and at reclassifying unjustifiably suspended proceedings as active. As a result of this, approximately 6,118 criminal proceedings were identified and transferred back into active investigation in Yerevan Investigative Department, alone. Moreover, among these criminal proceedings, there are cases within which individuals subject to be involved as a defendant were known from the outset, or there was no actual necessity to appoint an expert examination.

The above-mentioned efforts and reforms have produced significant and tangible results within a short period of time. As a result, during just the first nine months of this year, there has been a considerable increase in the number of criminal proceedings concluded with procedural outcomes, the number of individuals involved as defendants, and the amount of damage recovered to the state, communities, or physical and legal entities, the number of long-pending criminal proceedings has decreased.

In this regard, I would like to cite several statistical figures, which undoubtedly serve as evidence of the tremendous work carried out and the achievements accomplished. Particularly, during just the first nine months of this year, out of 73,707 criminal proceedings under investigation, the course of 48,997 was resolved, compared to 47,764 during the same period last year, that is, there is an increase of 1,233 proceedings, or 2.5%. in the same period, 9.625 criminal proceedings on 10.335 individuals, with the bill of indictment and final act were sent to court (8.178 criminal proceedings on 9.218 individuals in 2024). In other words, during just the first nine months of this year, the number of proceedings sent to court increased by 1,447, or 17.6%, while the number of individuals increased by 1,117, or 12.1%. In addition, 19,814 criminal proceedings were terminated (compared to 18,955 in 2024), that is, there is an increase of 859 proceedings or 4.5%.

A total of 9,031 motions to initiate criminal prosecution were submitted, of which 8,821 were approved and 210 were rejected (in 2024, 8,311 motions were submitted, with 8,163 approved and 148 rejected). This means the number of submitted motions increased by 720, or 8.6%.

Referring to the efforts aimed at recovering the damage caused to the state, community, legal or natural persons, I would like to note that during the 9 months of 2025, an unprecedented amount of property damage has been recovered through both completed and ongoing criminal proceedings, totaling 40 billion 78 million 425 thousand AMD (compared to 34 billion 447 million 720 thousand AMD in 2024), which represents an increase of 5 billion 630 million 705 thousand AMD or 16.3%.

In addition, as a result of evidentiary and procedural actions conducted within a number of criminal proceedings investigated in the Investigative Committee, a number of state or community properties acquired as a result of apparent criminal activities have been returned to the state or are in the process of being returned during 2025.

Particularly, within the criminal proceeding investigated in Tavush Regional Investigative Department, a kindergarten building located at 34 Shahumyan Street in Dilijan community (with an estimated cadastral value of 85,935,902 AMD) has been returned to the state.
 Within the criminal proceeding investigated in Gegharkunik Regional Investigative Department, on August 21, 2024, a stadium area of 6.5 hectares was returned to the state. Within the same proceeding, the stadium’s tribune buildings and structures, with a total area of 1980.55 square meters and an estimated value of 14 million 121 thousand 990 AMD, was also returned to the state.

Within criminal proceedings investigated in Tavush Regional Investigative Department, lawsuits have been filed with the RA Administrative Court seeking to invalidate the state registration of ownership rights over two land plots.

Within the criminal proceeding investigated in Gegharkunik Regional Investigative Department, 40 hectares of land was returned to the state, of which 35 hectares had been leased and 5 hectares had been privatized, with an estimated value of 22 million AMD. Within the same criminal proceeding, the damage in the amount of 2 million 100 thousand AMD caused to the state was also recovered.

Within the criminal proceeidng investigated in General Department for Investigation of Particularly Important Cases the defendant expressed willingness to return to the Republic of Armenia a real estate property located in the town of Goris, Syunik region, with a surface area of 234.3 square meters and a cadastral value approximating its market value 18 million 487 thousand 707 AMD, which had been acquired as a result of the alleged criminal act and registered under his son's name.

Within the criminal proceeding investigated in the Division of Investigation of Grave Crimes of Yerevan Investigative Department the amount of 425 million 026 thousand 620 AMD has been paid to the RA unified treasury account as compensation for damages caused to the state. A reconciliation agreement has also been signed with the state by the NGO “Armenia DOSAAF” regarding the return of immovable property valued at 1 billion 639 million 650 thpousand AMD.

Honorable Prime Minister, I do not wish to overburden my speech with additional statistical and numerical data; however, I would like to note that the Investigative Committee has recorded positive results in almost all key indicators this year.

I would also like to say a few words about the work carried out in connection with criminal proceedings from previous years that have gained public resonance, as well as the achievements made in that regard. Upon my instruction, criminal proceedings related to the murder of several high-ranking officials committed back in 1998 have been reviewed. The body of evidence in these cases has been re-examined and analyzed, a plan for conducting investigative and procedural actions has been developed, and several hypotheses have been put forward and tested with the aim of solving murder cases from previous years, the resolution of which the public has been awaiting for years.

It is worth noting that during the process of fully disclosing these crimes, we encountered significant challenges due to the considerable lapse of time. In some cases, the difficulties were caused by the death or absence from the country of trial participants; in others, witnesses were unable to recall the events and circumstances with the same clarity as they had immediately after the incidents. In certain instances, we even faced the disappearance or destruction of procedural documents.

However, despite the existing procedural challenges, it was possible to identify the individuals having committed the crime in the first criminal proceeding: particularly, the scope of individuals having committed the murder of the Deputy Minister of the RA Defense Vahram Khorkhoruni was disclosed, and they have been involved as a defendant, detention was applied as a pretrial measure against them. Currently, one individual is detained, search was declared against the other.  

Honorable Prime Minister, I assure that the investigations into high-profile murders that occurred in previous years are actively ongoing, and conducting a comprehensive and objective preliminary investigation within these criminal proceedings is one of the Investigative Committee's top priorities. At present, efforts in this direction have been intensified in the Investigative Committee, and soon our society will witness the identification of the perpetrators in another high-profile criminal proceeding. The goal is clear: to ensure that the public has confidence and trust that, regardless of the timeline or the course of events, criminal liability is inevitable, and every individual will, sooner or later, face criminal justice and be held accountable in accordance with the law.

I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to our colleagues in the law enforcement bodies, who throughout the entire criminal proceeding have not only supported the preliminary investigation with their daily work but in many cases have done the impossible, providing the investigator with information crucial for obtaining unique evidentiary facts in this particular case, and standing by the investigator throughout the entire criminal justice process. Therefore, the positive results mentioned above would not have been possible without close cooperation between law enforcement bodies, starting from all operational units, including the NSS, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Revenue Committee's General Department for Operational Intelligence, the operational unit within the RA Anti-Corruption Committee, and, of course, the RA Prosecutor General's Office.

Honorable Prime Minister, I would especially like to emphasize the efforts of the RA Government and personally Yours in improving the social guarantees of the Investigative Committee’s employees, as well as in addressing the existing needs for the Committee’s smooth operation with great care, thanks to which the position of investigator has become more attractive and honorable today. Thanks to this, it has become possible to continue personnel reforms, improve existing capabilities, and develop current technical equipment, thereby ensuring the continuous development of the system and upgrading the available opportunities and methods in combating crime in line with the demands of the time, for which I express my gratitude.

In conclusion, I would like to once again congratulate my colleagues who stand at the forefront of the fight against crime, who have spared no effort or energy to ensure that our society can be confident that the principles of equality before the law and the inevitability of punishment will be upheld unwaveringly, who approach their work as a missio. I am confident that through your daily efforts, you will meet and justify the public’s expectations and hopes, for this is our common primary mission and purpose․ I am confident that through our joint efforts, we will be able to eliminate injustice, favoritism, and any other criminal manifestation that undermines the legal security of the state. Only in this way can we achieve our society’s long-awaited goal of feeling justice and fairness. 

Thank You”. 

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan congratulated the Chairman of the Investigative Committee Artur Pghosyan and all the officers on the occasion of the professional holiday and expressed gratitude for the work carried out.

According to Nikol Pashinyan, there is a methodological issue in the Investigative Committee, as well as in all other sectors - the pursuit of an ideal state. According to the Prime Minister, certain aspects of this methodology need to be revised, as the path toward that ideal carries a high risk of disappointment and discouragement.

“We need to find a balance and understand that, no matter how much we strive for perfection, we must first acknowledge that we will not fully achieve it. We need to work clearly, in a regulated manner, and focus on the continuous improvement of efficiency. I believe that the ideal, or the concept of the ideal, is that at each successive stage we must acknowledge that we are working more efficiently, solving crimes more effectively, and better preventing and preempting criminal activities”, said the RA Prime Minister. 

Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the necessity of professionalism in effective work and noted that it is also important to understand what professionalism means. In this context, he highlighted the value system, morality, and courage: "In terms of personnel policy, education is indeed very important, but I actually believe that courage is also a matter of education, because courage also comes from a person understanding what they are doing. Morality, in my opinion, is also something connected to education."

The Prime Minister stated that the greatest challenge for law enforcement bodies should not only be the detection of crimes but also their prevention and preemption.

"It is an obvious fact that the Investigative Committee plays a very important institutional role in ensuring the state and public security of Armenia and protecting the rule of law. Essentially, we have completed the reforms of the investigative system; now we have two investigative bodies, and this is already the second year that we are working with this system. Now we need to monitor and understand the process. I hope the time will come to reap the fruits, although I must say that, overall, the impressions are certainly positive", said NIkol Pashinyan. 

The RA Prime Minister also emphasized the need to have enough courage to confront, including acknowledging the shortcomings in the work of state systems. "In my opinion, this will further highlight the advantages. We must also point out the shortcomings, and I appreciate that the Chairman of the Investigative Committee addressed this so that the public does not get the impression that the Government or the Investigative Committee are satisfied with the reality. No, we are aware of all the problems."

In conclusion, Nikol Pashinyan once again congratulated and expressed his gratitude to the attendees and their family members.

On the occasion of Investigative Committee Officer's Day, Armen Gevorgyan, Deputy Chairman of the RA Investigative Committee, and Arman Galstyan, Head of General Department on Special Assignments were awarded a commemorative medal, Arman Aslanyan, Deputy Chairman of the RA investigative Committee was awarded a valuable gift, Edward Tumaghayan, senior investigator of the Department for Investigation of Crimes on Human Trafficking, against Sexual Immunity of Juveniles and Illegal Turnover of Drugs of General Department for Investigation of Particularly Important Crimes and Meruzhan Galstyan, investigator for particularly important cases of the Department for Organizational-Analytical Activity and Criminalistics of General Department on Special Assignments were awarded the RA Prime Minister's Letter of Appreciation by the RA Prime Minister. 

At the solemn session of the Board session dedicated to the 11th anniversary of the Investigative Committee, the Deputies Chairman of the Investigative Committee, as well as the Heads of General Departments and Departments, presented reports outlining the work carried out during the nine months of 2025.

In their speeches, the presenters addressed a number of criminal proceedings that were brought to a procedural conclusion and stood out for their complexity, significance, public resonance, the scope of investigative and evidentiary actions carried out, as well as the positive outcomes achieved as a result of proper planning of the preliminary investigation.

By the orders of the Chairman of the RA Investigative Committee a number of Committee officers were awarded with badges of honor, medals, commemorative watches, letters of appreciation, as well as regular and extraordinary class ranks appropriate to their positions.
By the order of Suren Papikyan, Minister of Defense of the RA, Andranik Simonyan, Director of the RA National Security Service, Arpine Sargsyan, Minister of the RA Internal Affairs, Artur Nahapetyan, Chairman of the RA Anti-Corruption Committee, a number of investigators were awarded medals, commemorative watches, and certificates of appreciation for the conscientious and efficient performance of their professional and official duties, the achievements attained in the course of fulfilling their responsibilities, and on the occasion of the Day of the Officer of the Investigative Committee.

At the conclusion of the solemn session, a swearing-in ceremony was held for the newly appointed investigators.