Friday, March 23 2018 18:03

ArmInfo. SNC "Dilijan National Park", investigated in the Main Department for especially important cases of the Investigative Committee of Armenia detained the acting and ex-leaders of the park A. Manucharyan and O. Hovhannisyan in the framework of the criminal case on illegal logging in the "Haghartsin" park.

The Press Service of the RA SC recalls that in 2014-2017 as a result of illegal logging of more than 6,000 trees in the territory of the "Dilijan National Park" SNCO, the state suffered damage in especially large amounts. On this fact, a criminal case was initiated, and a preliminary investigation into the case is in the work of the State Department of the IC for particularly important cases.

According to factual data obtained during the investigation, it was established that deforestation was of an organized nature, and in order to sell the timber received in 2014, a criminal group engaged in logging was established. Individuals of those who created and directed the group and took a direct part in the cabin were identified. They were brought by the investigation as suspects in the case back in October-November 2017.

As a result of large-scale investigative actions, sufficient data were obtained that illegal felling was carried out by the former and current heads of the "Haghartsin" site of the Dilijan National Park, as a result of their abuse of official powers, as well as negligent attitude towards their official duties. In the criminal case, as foremost, foresters of the 3rd, 4th and 13th departments of the Agricin branch of the Dilijan National Park SNC, A.P. Zagharyan, G.Pogosyan and V.Dilanian were also brought in as defendants.

As of today, as the IC indicates, five persons have been charged within the framework of this criminal case, and in search of deputy director for protection, head of the Dilijan National Park V. Vasilian's department, a search has been announced, and two have been detained. "The preliminary investigation is ongoing, the necessary investigative and other procedural steps are being taken to ensure full, objective and comprehensive investigation of cases of illegal logging," the report said.