The consistent activity of the Prosecutor's Office of Lori region and other law enforcement agencies of regional structures continues in the direction of combating forest cutting, giving legal assessments to criminal manifestations related to the failure to fulfill their official duties by officials responsible for registering violations.

 

In particular, during the preliminary investigation of criminal cases investigated under the supervision of prosecutors of the Prosecutor's Office of Lori region by assessing sufficient evidence from October 25-30, 2021, 6 criminal cases against 3 foresters and 3 woodsmen  of the forestry branch of Lori region of Hayantar SNCO on charges brought under Part 2 of Art. 315 of the RA Criminal Code was sent to the court of General Jurisdiction of the First Instance of Lori region to consider the case on the merits.

 

These officials are accused of the fact that according to their position they were obliged to carry out preventive measures and control over the illegal cutting of forests, if necessary, draw up protocols on violations, check documents for the right to use forests, but they showed a negligent attitude towards their service, did not fulfill imposed on them duties, did not regularly carry out visits, did not draw up protocols for visits, did not find illegally cut trees. As a result, 346 trees were found out and, as a result, the nature was damaged in the amount of 37 million AMD.

 

With a view to restore the damage caused to the state, the property of the accused was seized.

 

During 2021 because of the performance of their duties inappropriately by officials, in particular, by the forester and woodsman of various branches of the forestry of the "Hayantar" SNCO, 2 more criminal cases concerning illegal felling of trees in relation to 2 people were sent to the court.

 

By all criminal cases, the prosecutor of Lori region gave instructions to the investigators carrying out the proceedings to ensure the completeness, objectivity and comprehensiveness of the criminal case in order to resolve the issue of sending them to court as soon as possible.

 

In addition, during 2021 47 petitions were addressed to the director of the "Hayantar" SNCO, aimed at eliminating the causes and conditions contributing to official crimes related to illegal cutting of the trees. As a result of which, 12 officials were fined, and 7 were suspended from work.

 

The prosecutor of Lori region also addressed a letter to the director of the Hayantar SNCO with a view to take measures to ensure that the requirements of the legal provisions on establishing the procedure for the supply of timber in public and state forests established by order No. 80-Ն dated 06.05.2013 of the Minister of Agriculture of the RA were followed. Their absence creates difficulties for specifying a clear period for the acquisition of detected timber.

 

By the received reply letter it was assured that the issue presented by the prosecutor of the region was discussed at Hayantar SNCO, during which all the heads of the branches were instructed to establish a strict control over the fulfillment of the requirements of this order.