Poachers Detected in the 'Red Sand' Area of Lake Sevan

On December 28, officers from the Gegharkunik regional department of the Armenian police, as well as the Martuni and Vardenis police divisions, apprehended two individuals suspected of poaching based on operational data, according to shamshyan.com.

Operational information indicated that residents of Gegharkunik, 34-year-old Masis P. and 31-year-old Voskanyan P., were illegally fishing in an area known as 'Red Sand' in the administrative territory of the village of Artzvanist. Police needed to act promptly and effectively to catch them in the act, as law enforcement refers to it, 'red-handed.'

Police arrived in a timely manner at the specified location and discovered the suspects, along with a fishing motorboat containing 69 pieces of 'sig' fish and one 'ishkhan' fish, totaling 27 kg in weight. They also found a VAZ 2101 vehicle owned by Voskanyan P.

The suspects were taken to the Martuni police station, where they provided explanations about the incident and were released. Masis and Voskanyan P. are said to be brothers and informed the police that they had caught the mentioned fish from the 'Red Sand' area using fishing nets, intending to use it for food.

The source also reports that the head of the Gegharkunik regional department has instructed officials from regional divisions and community police departments to meet with the local population to inform them that hunting, including in Lake Sevan, is prohibited during these days.