1,293 firearms confiscated from illegal circulation in Armenia

ArmInfo.  According to a press release from the RA Ministry of Internal Affairs, during H1 2026, as a result of public outreach campaigns conducted by police officers, 912 firearms of various types were voluntarily surrendered,  which is 101 units more than in the same period last year.

As emphasized in the statement, the police have always waged a  consistent campaign to identify and seize illegally stored weapons  and ammunition from circulation. The primary focus of this campaign  is outreach efforts aimed at both their seizure and voluntary  surrender. The core message of the police is clear: to foster the  understanding that every voluntarily surrendered firearm is a  responsible step toward ensuring public safety. According to Sargis  Kyasinyan, Head of the Permit and Methodological  Department at the  General Department of the Community Police, law enforcement efforts  extend beyond informational campaigns.  Illicitly possessed weapons  and ammunition are also identified through operational-investigative  measures and enhanced patrols. In the first half of 2026, operational  and investigative actions carried out by the police resulted in the  confiscation of 381 weapons. In total, 1,293 firearms were removed  from illicit circulation, exceeding last year's figures.

"I urge citizens who possess illegal weapons and ammunition to report  them to the police. By doing so, they will be exempt from criminal  liability, provided their actions do not involve other criminal  offenses," Sargis Kyasinyan stated.