Illegal Hunting Incident of Bezoar Goat Listed in the Red Book Sent to Court

The investigation initiated within the regional investigative department of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia in Vayots Dzor province has revealed that N.D., along with his friends A.Z. and G.Z., aimed to hunt chamois on October 29, 2025. They traveled to an area known as "Jafari Gorge" in the Mozrov community of Vayots Dzor province in N.D.'s vehicle.

There, using illegally obtained hunting firearms, they poached a bezoar goat, which is listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Armenia and is not included in the list established by the Minister of Environment's directive on August 20, 2025. This act resulted in a property damage of 3 million AMD to the state.

Subsequently, G.Z. and A.Z. went to where the hunted animal lay, assisted each other in skinning it, placed the remains in polyethylene bags, and transported them in the vehicle while heading towards the city of Yeghvard. However, on their way back, upon noticing a car and suspecting the possibility of police presence, they sought to conceal traces of the crime by disposing of the firearm used in the offense and the bags unnoticed.

A public criminal prosecution has been initiated against N.D. under Article 386, Part 2, Clause 3 of the Criminal Code (illegal hunting) and Article 335, Part 1 (illegal circulation of firearms, their main components, military ammunition, and other substances, devices, and objects), while G.Z. and A.Z. are being prosecuted under Article 474, Part 1 (assisting a person who has committed a crime). During the investigation, the damage caused to the state has been restored.

The criminal case has been sent to the supervising prosecutor with a recommendation for approval and submission to the court for consideration.