Azerbaijan records 15,420 crimes in first half

Azerbaijan registered 15,420 crimes across all state bodies involved in operational-search and investigative activity in the first half of 2026, the Interior Ministry said after a board meeting on July 9.

The ministry said 95.4% of the registered crimes were offences procedurally investigated by the interior affairs and prosecution bodies. It said 87% of crimes were classified as minor or less serious.

Compared with the first half of 2025, the total number of crimes fell by 8.6%, while serious and especially serious crimes declined by 6.5% and property crimes by 15.3%.

The ministry said 93.9% of crimes were solved during the reporting period. Together with prosecution bodies, police also solved 218 cases that had remained unsolved from previous years.

A total of 6,887 people accused of various crimes were sent for trial in the first half, while 4,282 people evading investigation and inquiry bodies were detained.

As part of efforts against organised crime, 288 criminal groups were neutralised, including 104 groups involved in serious and especially serious crimes.

N.Tebrizli