In the Department of State Interests Protection of the RA Prosecutor General's Office were studied the documents received from the Audit Chamber of the Republic of Armenia regarding adit conducted in the field of industrial hunting and export of crabs from Lake Sevan, and within the framework of the study the necessary documents were also requested and received from the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia

 

It was found out that under the agreements on the use of animal resources concluded with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia during 2017-2018, 4 LLC carried out an industrial hunt of 104 tons of crabs. Meanwhile, during the indicated period, 7 legal entities, including the latter, exported about 357 tons of wild crabs. Thus, the hunting of 253 tons of crabs was carried out without a contract.

 

In the course of the study it was also found out that in 2016 4 companies, that concluded agreements for the use of natural life resources turned to the ministry, with a view to get a consent for the export of hunted during 2015 and not realized during 2017 crabs. Within the framework of this the State Ecological Inspectorate of the RA Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources carried out study and according to the study in 4 LLC were not realized in total 325 tons of crabs. Meanwhile data were received, that for the study the employees of the Inspectorate during the mentioned period had not gone to Gegharkunik region , in the mentioned organizations were not carried out the studies of real resource of crabs.

 

By the conclusion presented to the Audit Chamber of the Republic of Armenia by the Institute of Hydroecology and Fisheries of the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of the RA National Academy of Sciences for long-term storage of live crabs of this amount, among other mandatory factors, LLC should have non-concrete ponds which they did not have. Besides, during the study it was found out that in 2015 export volumes of crabs by companies had already exceeded their hunting permits.

 

Thus, the responsible officials of the RA Ministry of Nature Protection in November 2016 presented false, not corresponding to reality data on the volume of crabs. As a result, legal entities during 2017-2018 exported wild crabs (253 tons) purchased from an unknown source, as a result of which, presumably, 253 million AMD were not paid to the state budget.

 

According to the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of the RA National Academy of Sciences, the total biomass of crabs is 8530 tons, from which 1900 tons can be used. Meanwhile, ignoring the studies of SNCOs during 2014-2016 was granted hunting permission for 5474 tons of crabs. As a result, reproduction of crab populations and resources to ensure the required quantity were threatened.

 

During the study carried out within the framework of the audit, it was found out that one of the companies in the first quarter of 2017 presented to State Ecological Inspectorate  the audit regarding the use of 17.95 tons of crabs, in case when its hunting permit was given for 12 tons. Thus, 5.95 tons more resources were used. Meanwhile, the responsible officials of the Inspectorate did not register the fact of illegal use of biological resources and did not take measures to hold them accountable, and as a result of environmental violations, wildlife was damaged in the amount of 6 million AMD.

 

Taking into account that, as a result of studies carried out in the Republic of Armenia, factual data were found out containing obvious elements of a crime in the Department of State Interests Protection of the RA Prosecutor General's Office a criminal case was initiated under Part 2 of Art. 308, Part 1 of Art. 314, Part 2 of Art. 315 of the RA Criminal Code.

 

The preliminary investigation was entrusted to the RA IC.

 

Notice: Every person suspected in or charged with a criminal offense shall be presumed innocent unless proved guilty in the manner prescribed by the RA Criminal Procedure Code and unless the verdict comes into legal force.