A total of 3,186 serious and especially serious crimes were recorded, up 5.8 percent year-on-year from 3,012 cases.

The overall growth in crime has slowed slightly, from 9.7 percent after the first six months to 8.8 percent in January—July.

Fraud hits record levels as thefts decline

Property crimes continue to account for more than 70 percent of all recorded offenses, with 15,573 cases, up 13.4 percent.

The main concern is the sharp increase in fraud. The number of registered fraud cases rose 1.6-fold to 8,241, compared with 5,274 a year earlier.

In July alone, fraudsters committed another 1,146 offenses.

At the same time, traditional property crimes continued to decline. Extortion fell 1.7-fold to 78 cases, robbery declined 1.4-fold to 46 cases, theft decreased by 24.8 percent to 5,348 cases, and aggravated theft declined by 14.1 percent to 324 cases.

Increase in crimes against life and health

Law enforcement agencies recorded a 31.2 percent increase in crimes against individuals, reaching 2,719 cases compared with 2,073 a year earlier.

The number of rape cases rose 1.5-fold to 143, while cases involving serious bodily harm increased by 20.1 percent to 161.

At the same time, the number of murders fell by 9.4 percent to 87 cases, while cases of less serious bodily harm decreased by 15.2 percent to 234.

The growth in serious and especially serious crimes slowed substantially, from 9.1 percent in the first half of the year to 5.8 percent in January—July. In July, 426 such cases were registered.

Law enforcement agencies recorded 677 drug-related offenses, up 5.1 percent. More than 54 percent of these cases involved possession of drugs with intent to sell.

Among official misconduct cases, bribery fell to 101 cases, down 45.7 percent, while corruption cases decreased to 33, down 45.9 percent. No cases of abuse of power were recorded.

Economic crimes shifted from growth of 6 percent in the first half of the year to a 6.2 percent decline in January—July, with 1,242 cases compared with 1,324 a year earlier.

Over the seven-month period, law enforcement agencies identified 13,500 people who had committed crimes, an 11.4 percent increase.

Women accounted for 14.1 percent of those identified, minors for 4.2 percent, while 64.7 percent were neither employed nor studying at the time they were detained.

The largest increases in crime were recorded in Batken region, with 1,069 cases, up 61.2 percent, and Naryn region, with 668 cases, up 61 percent.

Incidentally, while Batken region outpaced Naryn region in growth for the first half of the year (+66.8 percent versus +53.6 percent), the latter significantly narrowed the gap in July.

Bishkek recorded 9,615 crimes (up 2.2 percent), while Osh recorded 2,211 cases, an increase of 16.2 percent.