Massive Illegal Logging in Dilijan National Park Causes Significant Damage to State

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has revealed significant details regarding large-scale illegal logging activities in the forest areas of the Dilijan National Park, following extensive investigative and procedural actions undertaken in a criminal case being examined by the main department for particularly significant cases. Between 2014 and 2019, a total of 9,382 trees of various species and diameters were illegally cut down in these forest areas, resulting in damage amounting to 1,625,623,250 Armenian drams to the state.

According to the evidence gathered during the investigation, certain residents from the nearby settlements of Teghut and Haghartsin in the Dilijan community, who possessed trucks and tracked tractors, conspired with the responsible employees of the Dilijan National Park to conduct illegal logging activities. They either formed a criminal group for logging or made arrangements with hired villagers to carry out illegal tree cutting operations.

Subsequently, large-scale illegal logging was conducted in various sections of the Dilijan National Park, causing substantial damage to the state. Specifically, in addition to one group operating within a particular section or area, no other individuals or groups were authorized to carry out logging, and a portion of the wood resulting from these illegal activities was sold as construction timber in processing facilities located in the Ijevan community, while another part was sold as firewood in the Ararat or Gegharkunik regions.

Based on the combination of sufficient evidence, 40 individuals have been implicated as defendants in the criminal case, including several employees of the Dilijan National Park and various individuals engaged in illegal logging, as well as those who acquired the timber resulting from these illegal operations. Three criminal cases with accusatory conclusions have been sent to court. One individual has been declared wanted.

Some of the damage caused to the state has been recovered. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing, and measures are being taken to locate the individual in hiding and present them to the prosecuting authority.

Notice: A suspect or accused individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the established procedure set forth in the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia, via a legally binding judicial decision.