‘How to Remove a Fly from a Fir Tree’: Police Operation in Armavir. The Fir Tree Thief is the Brother of a General.

Upon the instruction of the Chief of Police of Armenia, Major General Vahe Ghazaryan, a strict directive has been issued to the heads of regional police departments and territorial divisions to enhance supervision over loggers, prevent violations against nature, and disclose criminal activities.

According to Shamshyan.com, on February 21, officers of the Armavir regional police, headed by Chief Karen Hakobyan, along with the Criminal Investigations and Community Policing units of the Metsamor division, led by Chief Samvel Khmelian, conducted the operation titled ‘How to Remove a Fly from a Fir Tree’ in the Armavir region.

Photojournalist reports indicate that on February 20, the senior investigator from the Criminal Investigations group of the Metsamor police received information that several 35-40 year old fir trees had been uprooted and stolen from the administrative territory of Metsamor city. Shortly thereafter, police, taking the necessary operational measures, discovered that at around noon on the same day, Ashot Grigoryan, a 64-year-old resident of the village of Arshaluys, had uprooted three large fir trees from the backyard in front of the former movie theater of Metsamor and transported them to his home in Arshaluys.

Upon arriving at A. Grigoryan's residence, police conducted explanatory talks with him, after which two of the fir trees were relocated from Arshaluys to the place where they had been planted years ago. A. Grigoryan also promised to relocate the third fir tree to the same location. Material is being prepared on the fact.

According to the website, A. Grigoryan is the brother of General Manvel Grigoryan, the former president of the Volunteer Union of Defenders of the Fatherland, who is known in his social circle by the nickname ‘Fly’.