On July 9, a Board meeting was held at the Ministry of Internal Affairs dedicated to the results of operational-service activities for the first 6 months of 2026 and the tasks ahead.
According to the information provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to elchi, Minister of Internal Affairs, Colonel-General Vilayat Eyvazov, who opened the meeting with an introductory speech, stated that the internal affairs bodies and Internal Troops have duly fulfilled their service duties in the fields of combating crime, protecting public order, and defending human rights and freedoms. He emphasized that security has been reliably ensured during mass events of international and national importance, as well as in the liberated territories, and that the functions established by law have been performed professionally in coordination with other law enforcement agencies. Noting that important tasks lie ahead, he pointed out the necessity of their detailed discussion, as well as the identification and implementation of additional organizational measures to improve service activities.
The report and speeches following the report were heard at the meeting.
It was emphasized in the report that in the past 6 months, 15,420 crimes were recorded across all state agencies subject to operational-search and investigative activities, 95.4 percent of which were unlawful acts investigated in a procedural manner by internal affairs and prosecution bodies, and 87 percent consisted of crimes that do not pose a great public danger and less serious types.
Compared to the 6 months of 2025, total crimes decreased by 8.6 percent, serious and especially serious crimes by 6.5 percent, crimes against property by 15.3 percent (including thefts by 11.5 percent, fraud by 16.8 percent, robberies by 8.8 percent, banditry by 44.2 percent, extortion by 10.5 percent, hooliganism by 12.5 percent, crimes by minors by 15.3 percent, crimes committed on the basis of family conflict by 3.5 percent, group crimes by 16.6 percent, crimes committed with the use of firearms by 3 cases), the number of road traffic accidents decreased by 7.6 percent, the number of injured in accidents by 19 percent, and the number of fatalities by 9 percent.
The detection of crimes improved by 1.1 percent, the detection of crimes committed in non-obvious conditions by 2.5 percent, the detection of crimes against property by 4.4 percent (including thefts by 10.7 percent, fraud by 1.2 percent), and the detection of kidnapping and vehicle theft crimes was fully ensured.
Through investigative actions and operational measures, 93.9 percent of crimes were solved, including 218 cases from previous years solved jointly with prosecution bodies and 3,013 crimes solved through operational response measures, and 4,474 unlawful acts were prevented. 6,887 persons who committed various crimes were brought to justice. 4,282 persons evading investigation and inquiry bodies, including 645 accused of serious and especially serious crimes, were arrested. The results of search operations improved by 3 percent, rising to 82.7 percent.
Within the framework of measures to combat organized crime, 288 criminal groups were neutralized, including 104 that committed serious and especially serious crimes, and 70 people who illegally possessed and carried firearms were brought to criminal responsibility. At the same time, 3,088 firearms, 337 grenades, and more than 99,000 cartridges were seized.
Compared to the corresponding period of last year, 4 tons and 318 kilograms of narcotic drugs were removed from illegal circulation, which is 1 ton and 360 kilograms more, and more than 254 tons of illegally cultivated and wild hemp and poppy bushes were discovered and destroyed. 41 criminal groups were neutralized for these types of acts, and 2,652 people were brought to criminal responsibility.
Continuing the implementation of important functions in the field of receiving citizens and considering their appeals, 3,889 people were received, and most of the issues raised found their legal resolution. Appeals received by the Ministry were promptly investigated, and each was answered in writing with an explanation of the rights of the initiators.
Concluding the Board meeting, Minister Colonel-General V. Eyvazov noted that service duties and assigned tasks were generally fulfilled properly during the reporting period and gave his instructions and recommendations regarding increasing the effectiveness of activities to develop the positive results achieved in the field of strengthening legality and the rule of law.
He also emphasized that ensuring citizen satisfaction is one of the main tasks defined by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and demanded greater sensitivity in the work of preventing and solving crimes, recovering material damage caused by unlawful acts, considering appeals, and receiving citizens.