Preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated on illegal tree felling and transporting trees without appropriate permission was completed on three persons in Lori Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee.

On December 20, 2018 15 stumps of illegally cut trees were found by the forester of the fifth section of Tumanyan forestry. On January 11, 2019 116 more stumps of illegally cut trees were found by the forester of the fifth section of Stepanavan forestry and on the mentioned occasions appropriate records were made.

In the result of comprehensive investigation conducted within the criminal case sufficient evidence were obtained on the allegation that tree felling in particularly large amount had been committed by residents of Lori province, born in 1986, 1988, 1987 and 1984.

Particularly, it was found out that with the purpose of selling firewood in November-December, 2018 the mentioned residents of Lori using gasoline-powered saw at the areas of different forestries of “Hayantar” SNCO illegally cut down 131 trees, in total, prepared firewood splitting the trees, transported  and sold it causing damage in particularly large amount - 4 920 000 AMD.

On the base of the obtained sufficient evidence charge was pressed against one of them – the man, born in 1988, according to the Part 3 of the Article 38-296 of RA Criminal Code, against other two men – according to the Part 3 of the Article 296 of RA Criminal Code. The part on one of them was separated as a separate proceeding and the criminal case with the bill of indictment was sent to court.

As the damage caused has not been recovered, by the investigator’s decision the property registered in their names has been seized.

At the same time, considering that during preliminary investigation one of the defendants – the resident of Lori, born in 1984, is hiding from investigation, decisions were made to involve him as a defendant according to the Part 3 of the Article 296 and the Part 3 of the Article 38-296 of RA Criminal Code, signature not to leave was chosen as a pretrial measure against him and search was declared.

Preliminary investigation of the separated part is ongoing. Necessary measures are taken to find and bring him to the investigative body.

Note; Everyone charged with alleged crime offence shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.