In the framework of the criminal case on illegal tree felling committed in a number of sections of «Haghartsin Area» of “Dilijan National Park” SNCO investigated in General Department of Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the RA Investigative Committee charge was pressed against head of «Haghartsin Area» of “Dilijan National Park” SNCO A. Manucharyan and former head H. Hovhannisyan.

It was earlier informed that from 2014 to 2017 illegal tree felling had been committed in the sections of “Dilijan National Park” SNCO in the result of which damage of particularly large amount was inflicted to the state.  A criminal case was initiated preliminary investigation of which is conducted in the RA IC General Department of Investigation of Particularly Important Cases.

Pursuant to actual data obtained through investigation the tree felling had been of organized nature; the steady criminal group was created in 2014 to carry out tree felling for selling wood. The people involved in creation and control of the group, as well as in tree felling were identified who were involved as a defendant within the criminal case in October- November, 2017. Pursuant to initial data, during three years more than 7000 trees were cut down at the forested areas of «Haghartsin Area» of “Dilijan National Park” SNCO and the damage caused to the state is assessed over one milliard 222 million AMD.

In the result of investigatory actions of great volume sufficient data were obtained on the allegation that negligence to duties had been shown by the former and current officials of «Haghartsin Area» of “Dilijan National Park” SNCO which caused improper implementation of duties causing grave circumstances. Particularly, measures were not taken in time to reveal the cases of illegal tree felling committed by the members of the organized group, as well as by other people, to subject the person or people having committed illegal felling to administrative or criminal liability, as well as to restore the damage in particularly large amount inflicted to the state. The cases of tree felling were found through inspection conducted by the Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body of the RA Ministry of Nature Protection.

On the base of the obtained evidence charge was pressed against the head of «Haghartsin Area» of “Dilijan National Park” SNCO A. Manucharyan according to the Part 2 of the Article 315 of RA Criminal Code, against the former head H. Hovhannisyan according to the Part 2 of the Article 308, the Part 1 of the Article 314 and the Part 2 of the Article 325 (5 counts) of RA Criminal Code. The investigator submitted motions to court to use detention as a pretrial measure against them. The motion on using detention as a pretrial measure against H. Hovhannisyan was sufficed by court, the motion on using detention as a pretrial measure against A. Manucharyan was rejected.

As of today, in the framework of the mentioned criminal case charge was pressed against 7 people. Besides, search was declared against deputy director – division head on protection of “Dilijan National Park” SNCO V. Vasilyan.

Preliminary investigation is ongoing, necessary investigatory and other procedural actions are conducted to provide the complete, objective and comprehensive investigation of the case on illegal tree felling, to find the whole frame of those involved and give legal assessment to the activities of each of them.

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