Illegal Logging Cases Increase by 26% in Tavush Province

The ongoing legal battle against illegal logging and related corruption in Armenia continues through active collaboration among the Prosecutor General's Office, its regional subdivisions, and various law enforcement agencies. In the first half of 2020, as a result of operational and investigative measures taken by the Tavush Provincial Department of Police and the activities of employees from the 'Hayantar' State Non-Commercial Organization, 273 cases of illegal logging were recorded, which is an increase of 64 cases or approximately 31% compared to the same period last year.

Out of these, criminal cases were initiated in 64 instances, marking an increase of about 25% compared to the 51 cases during the same period last year.

These figures are attributed to the successful discovery of what are often latent illegal logging incidents, continuous efforts in forest conservation, and improvements in documenting and reporting these cases properly. The damages caused to the state from the criminal cases related to illegal logging initiated and under investigation in Tavush province have amounted to 132,909,458 AMD.

Faced with this, the Prosecutor's Office has sent 24 proposals from various citizens aimed at recovering a total of 17,155,594 AMD in damages. Efforts are being made to fully recover the damage by the relevant entities.

The positive results in revealing environmental crimes are also influenced by the criminal policy adopted by the Prosecutor's Office, which mandates investigating the potential corrupt involvement of officials responsible for the protection of forests in each case of environmental offense. This has heightened the vigilance of these officials in maintaining the forests in their responsibility zones, recording deforestation incidents, and promptly informing law enforcement about violations.

As a result of careless or negligent attitudes by the relevant officials of 'Hayantar' SNCO towards their duties, 4 criminal cases have been initiated under the procedural oversight of the Tavush prosecutor's office. The damages to the state caused by these negligent attitudes have amounted to 7,743,000 AMD. These criminal cases are currently in the pre-trial phase.

In the first half of 2020, the number of criminal cases related to illegal logging sent to court with accusatory conclusions has increased by approximately 26% compared to the previous year. Specifically, if 17 such criminal cases involving 17 individuals were sent to court in the first half of 2019, the same period in 2020 saw 21 cases involving 23 individuals sent.

In the 10 criminal cases reviewed and completed in court regarding illegal logging, the amount to be compensated to the state for damages amounted to 3,891,620 AMD, part of which has been recovered. The unrecovered amount has been recommended by the prosecutors of Tavush province to be subject to legitimate claims by the relevant state authority within reasonable time frames.

Additionally, in these criminal cases, the Prosecutor's Office has sent 6 reports to the responsible officials of 'Hayantar' SNCO and several state bodies, along with one motion for conducting an internal investigation. Furthermore, pursuant to Article 200 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia, 3 motions have been directed to the relevant bodies to eliminate the causes and conditions facilitating such offenses.