Directors of Several Branches of Sevan National Park Allowed Illegal Fishing of Sturgeon

The National Security Service of Armenia, as part of its operations aimed at combating corruption, has uncovered cases of abuse of official power and bribery involving officials from several branches of the Sevan National Park under the Ministry of Environment of Armenia.

According to preliminary data, directors and inspectors of the "Vardenis," "Aranik," and "Sevan" branches of the Sevan National Park, while officially authorized to take measures to prevent the illegal fishing of fish, allowed a group of citizens to illegally extract a large quantity of sturgeon, causing significant damage to the state. The confiscated fish has been fully provided to the Vardenis boarding house and the psychiatric hospital in Sevan.

Furthermore, the director of one of the aforementioned branches, during 2018-2019, having been aware of the illegal extraction and transportation of gravel from the territory under his jurisdiction by a citizen of Armenia, received bribes in various amounts and did not prevent the illegal actions. In another case, the branch director, having reached a preliminary agreement with an underage official, failed to compile a report on the administrative violation regarding the illegal logging of firewood in June 2019, for which bribe money was received.

Criminal cases have been initiated by the Investigation Department of the NSS of Armenia under relevant articles of the Criminal Code. An investigation is underway.

Notice: The suspect or accused in the alleged crime is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedures established by the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia, by a court decision that has entered into legal force.