Six-Month Results Reviewed at the Ministry of Internal Affairs

On 9 July, a Board Meeting was held at the Ministry of Internal Affairs to review the results of operational and service activities for the first six months of 2026 and discuss the tasks ahead.
Opening the meeting with introductory remarks, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Colonel General Vilayət Eyvazov, stated that the internal affairs bodies and the Internal Troops had duly fulfilled their official duties in combating crime, maintaining public order, and protecting human rights and freedoms. He emphasized that security had been reliably ensured during international and nationally significant mass events, as well as in the territories liberated from occupation, and that the functions prescribed by law had been professionally carried out in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies. Pointing out that important tasks still lie ahead, he stressed the necessity of discussing them in detail and determining and implementing additional organizational measures aimed at further improving service activities.
During the meeting, the report presentation and speeches related to the report were heard.
The report emphasized that during the past six months, 15,420 criminal offenses had been registered by all state authorities authorized to conduct operational-search and investigative activities, and 95.4% of them were unlawful acts procedurally investigated by the internal affairs and prosecution authorities, while 87% consisted of crimes not posing great public danger and less serious crimes.
Compared with the first six months of 2025, the total number of crimes decreased by 8.6%, serious and especially serious crimes by 6.5%, crimes against property by 15.3%, including thefts by 11.5%, frauds by 16.8%, robberies by 8.8%, armed robberies by 44.2%, extortions by 10.5%, hooliganism by 12.5%, crimes committed by juveniles by 15.3%, crimes committed as a result of family conflicts by 3.5%, crimes committed by groups by 16.6%, crimes committed with the use of firearms by 3 cases, the number of road traffic accidents by 7.6%, the number of persons injured in traffic accidents by 19%, and the number of fatalities by 9%.
The crime clearance rate improved by 1.1%, the clearance rate for crimes committed under non-obvious circumstances by 2.5%, the clearance rate for crimes against property by 4.4%, including thefts by 10.7%, and frauds by 1.2%. The clearance of kidnapping and unlawful taking of motor vehicles was fully ensured.
As a result of investigative actions and operational measures carried out, 93.9% of crimes were solved, including 218 crimes remaining unsolved from previous years jointly with the prosecution authorities and 3,013 crimes solved through prompt operational response measures. In addition, 4,474 unlawful acts were prevented. A total of 6,887 persons who had committed various crimes were brought before the courts. 4,282 persons evading investigation and inquiry authorities, including 645 persons accused of committing serious and especially serious crimes, were apprehended. The effectiveness of wanted-person search operations improved by 3%, reaching 82.7%.
Within the framework of measures to combat organized crime, 288 criminal groups were neutralized, including 104 groups that had committed serious and especially serious crimes, while 70 persons illegally possessing and carrying firearms were brought to criminal liability. In addition, 3,088 firearms, 337 grenades, and more than 99,000 rounds of ammunition were seized.
Compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, 1 ton 360 kilograms more narcotic drugs were removed from illegal circulation, amounting to a total of 4 tons 318 kilograms. More than 254 tons of illegally cultivated and wild-growing cannabis and poppy plants were detected and destroyed. In connection with these offenses, 41 criminal groups were neutralized, and 2,652 persons were brought to criminal liability.
The implementation of important functions related to receiving citizens and examining their appeals also continued. A total of 3,889 persons were received, and the majority of the issues raised were resolved in accordance with the law. Appeals submitted to the Ministry were promptly examined, and each applicant received a written response explaining their rights.
Concluding the Board Meeting, Minister Colonel General V. Eyvazov noted that, overall, the official duties and assigned tasks had been duly fulfilled during the reporting period and gave instructions and recommendations aimed at increasing the effectiveness of activities to further strengthen legality and the rule of law and to build upon the positive results achieved.
He also emphasized that ensuring citizen satisfaction is one of the principal tasks determined by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Əliyev, and required an even more diligent approach to crime prevention, crime detection, recovery of material damage caused by unlawful acts, the examination of citizens' appeals, and the reception of citizens.