Eco-patrol received a bribe for failing to prevent illegal logging

The preliminary investigation of a criminal case examined by the RA Anti-Corruption Committee established that an official who held the position of Senior Eco-Patrol at the Tavush Regional Department of the Eco-Patrol Service of the RA Ministry of Environment, serving in the Ijevan and Artsvaberd sectors, failed to perform his official duties, thereby causing significant damage to the lawful interests of the state.

Specifically, it was found that the Senior Eco-Patrol, being aware of illegal logging carried out in the territory of the “Artsvaberd” forestry branch of the “Hayantar” State Non-Commercial Organization, did not fulfill his official responsibilities: he took no measures to prevent the illegal logging and failed to report the apparent crime. Moreover, he instructed the person carrying out the logging to conceal the fact of the illegal activity by “blackening” the stumps of the felled trees, as a result of which the incident of apparent illegal logging was hidden.

In addition, the Senior Eco-Patrol received a bribe from two individuals in return for his unlawful inaction — namely, for not obstructing their illegal logging activities in the “Artsvaberd” forestry territory and for failing to take measures to prevent them.

The Eco-Patrol has been charged under Part 1 of Article 441 and Point 3 of Part 2 of Article 435 of the RA Criminal Code (3 counts). The two individuals who bribed him have been charged under Points 1 and 3 of Part 2 of Article 436 of the RA Criminal Code (3 counts). Detention has been applied as a preventive measure against the Eco-Patrol, while the other two defendants have been placed under house arrest.

The preliminary investigation of the criminal case has been completed, and the case materials have been sent to the RA Anti-Corruption Court with an indictment.

Notice: A person accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the RA Criminal Procedure Code, by a court verdict that has entered into legal force.