Environment Ministry Contacts Police Over Bear Cub Killing in Armavir

The infringement on any species registered in Armenia's "Red Book" is unacceptable, as every living creature inhabiting Armenia is an inseparable part of our country's ecosystem, a crucial link in the preservation of biodiversity. This is stated in a Facebook post by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia, addressing the case of the killing of a bear cub in the Armavir region.

Newspress.am reported the brutal killing of a brown bear cub in the Armavir region. A photograph has surfaced online where two citizens are posing proudly and happily with the bloodied cub. Apparently, they killed that cub and take pride in their hunt.

According to NEWSPRESS.am, the men in the photograph are residents of the Myasnikyan community in Armavir. The Kalashyan brothers, Bro (wearing a blue jacket) and Temur (in military camouflage), are of Yazidi descent and are believed to be the perpetrators of this illegal hunting. It seems they did not kill the bear in self-defense and should bear responsibility for their actions. The photograph also shows that they killed the cub with a sharp instrument.

The Ministry of Environment has contacted the Environmental and Mining Inspection Body and the Armavir regional police department to thoroughly investigate the incident, clarify the circumstances, and take appropriate measures. Infringement on any species registered in Armenia's "Red Book" is unacceptable, as it is a crucial part of our country's ecosystem and biodiversity preservation. The protection and preservation of red-listed species are of utmost importance, as it serves the interests of all citizens of the Republic of Armenia. We strongly condemn such behavior towards animals.

It should be noted that the Armenian Criminal Code stipulates penalties for killing a brown bear, which is registered in the Republic of Armenia's "Red Book": 400-600 times the minimum wage in fines or imprisonment for 2-3 months, along with restitution ranging from 1 to 5 million AMD.

We urge all citizens to immediately report such incidents to the Police of the Republic of Armenia, the Environmental and Mining Inspection Body (hotline 119), or contact the Ministry of Environment.