Police Officials Covered Up Illegal Logging Incident: Criminal Case Launched

The Investigation Committee of Armenia has initiated a criminal case regarding illegal logging activities and abuse of official power at the Dilijan National Park State Non-Commercial Organization. A thorough investigation has uncovered evidence of abuse of authority by officials at the Tavush Regional Department of the Armenian Police.

It was revealed that on November 1, 2018, a resident of the Haghartsin community illegally transported timber using a GAZ 53 cargo truck. He was stopped by officers from the Dilijan Division of the Tavush Regional Department of the Police. After discovering that the timber lacked legal documentation, the cargo truck was taken to a secure location managed by the Dilijan Division of the Armenian Police, and materials were prepared regarding the incident, which were subsequently sent to the Tavush Division of the Police.

To evade criminal or administrative liability and to falsely present the illegally obtained timber as legal, the truck driver sought help from another resident of the same community. This individual then contacted the head of the Dilijan Division of the Tavush Regional Department of the Police, who, in apparent abuse of his official powers, agreed to collaborate with the head of the Tavush Division of the Police. As part of this arrangement, the driver submitted a forged invoice to the prosecuting body, based on which a decision was later made to refuse to initiate a criminal case regarding the incident.

A criminal case has been initiated under Article 308, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (abuse of official power), which, according to investigative jurisdiction, has been forwarded to the Special Investigation Service of Armenia.

Notice: A suspect or defendant in a purported crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty according to the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia and by a legally binding judicial decision.