Massive Slaughter of Firs in Goris: Trees Cut from the Roots

Residents of Goris report that forestry workers have been conducting mass tree cuttings for several days now, resulting in the slaughter of green firs, with more than 100 large trees already felled, according to Hraparak.

The media outlet contacted the head of Goris' forestry, Vitali Dalunts, a member of the ruling Civil Contract party, who stated that the firs are interfering with high-voltage power lines that run through the forest. The tree cuttings are a response to this situation, he explained: “This is completely legal; the 35,000-volt power lines are at risk, the trees are close to them, it doesn’t just happen; it is entirely legal, both for the 35,000 and the 10,000-volts.”

When asked how many meters or possibly kilometers of forest cutting is being discussed, Dalunts replied, “We will cut down as much area as there is; we will cut wherever the power lines go.” He stubbornly refrained from specifying a number. When pressed on whether it pertains to kilometers, he responded, “There might be kilometers, for instance, if it goes through municipal territory; the municipality will handle it, which belongs to the forest; the forest will do it.”

On why the firs are cut from the roots instead of just trimmed, the forest manager delivered a stunning response: “We are cutting from the top; in a year or two, it will reach the top again.”

This indicates that instead of resolving the issue yearly, the Goris forestry prefers to organize a massacre of trees, while an ordinary citizen would face legal consequences for even cutting a branch from the forest.

Experts told us that at least four firs are planted per meter. The media also notes that Dalunts owns the Dzorak restaurant, which is noted for its wooden decor, leading us to wonder if these trees are being cut for the restaurant's interior. The forest manager’s response was, “Anyone who says such a thing has bumped their head against the wall.”