Skip to content

In 2020, Armenia and Azerbaijan entered a renewed period of armed conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. This situation led to a significant raise in the influx of weapons and ammunition supplied by foreign powers.[1] The war also reportedly led to the prosecution of numerous cases of illegal acquisition and theft of weapons and ammunition in the country.[2]

In terms of Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM), after the ceasefire, members of the Armenian ruling party notably proposed a bill to significantly loosen the regulation on civilian possession of weapons with the declared will to increase the country’s defence capacities.[3]

 


[1] Pieter D. Weseman, Alexandra Kuimova and Jordan Smith, “Arms transfers to conflict zones: The case of Nagorno-Karabakh”, SIPRI, 30.04.21, https://www.sipri.org/commentary/topical-backgrounder/2021/arms-transfers-conflict-zones-case-nagorno-karabakh.

[2] The Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Armenia, “39 people were charged for illicit firearms trafficking from Artsakh to Armenia during the war and after the war, 5 were sentenced to imprisonment”, 31.03.21, https://www.prosecutor.am/en/mn/8125/.

[3] Arshaluis Mgdesyan, “In wake of war defeat, Armenia seeks to loosen gun laws”, Eurasianet, 12.05.22, https://eurasianet.org/in-wake-of-war-defeat-armenia-seeks-to-loosen-gun-laws.

Launch the country dashboard

Map of Armenia

Further information

Accidental explosions

Since the beginning of data collection in 1979 by the Small Arms Survey, one accidental explosion was reported in Armenia (Table 1).

Table. 1 Accidental explosions in Armenia (1979-2021)

Year

Location

Owner/manager

Deaths

Injuries

1992

Yerevan

State (military)

-

7

Source: UEMS Database (December 2021); Small Arms Survey. ‘Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (UEMS)’. https://smallarmssurvey.org/database/unplanned-explosions-munitions-sites-uems.

Cases of diversion

Information on the disposal of ammunition in Armenia.

Disposal

Destruction, use, or export of ammunition as an indicator of a state’s ability to identify and decrease aging, unsafe, or surplus ammunition.  

Information on the disposal of ammunition in Armenia.

Needs

Further requirements for an effective through-life management of ammunition in the country.

No needs have been reported for Armenia.

Published Date: Wednesday 31 of August 2022