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The crime rate has grown in Armenia, but it is not agreed with the recently declared amnesty, Police Chief Valeriy Osipyan told reporters after a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

“It’s true, the crime rate has increased in Armenia, but it is not a risky growth that can worry us and has nothing to do with the amnesty. Not yet!” he said.

Among the key reasons behind the crime rate growth, Osipyan named the elimination of the old practice to cover crimes.

He also stressed people’s trust toward police officers have increased. “If people didn’t respect, trust or love police offers before, now I can bring numerous examples when our citizens immediately apply to police even in case of slightly worrying issues,” he said.

In addition, he said, the economic crimes committed previously but revealed now has also contributed to the crime rate growth.

Meantime, the police chief didn’t rule out that some convicts released under the recently declared amnesty may commit new crimes as a matter of practice.