Through comprehensive investigation conducted within the criminal case investigated in General Department of Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the RA Investigative Committee on illegal tree-felling and official crimes committed in “Dilijan National Park” SNCO data were obtained on apparent abuse of official authorities by relevant officials of Tavush Regional Department of the RA Police.

It was found out that on November 1, 2018 the resident of Haghartsin transported timber acquired illegally in his truck of “Gaz 53” make and the employees of Dilijan Division of Tavush Regional Department of the RA Police stopped him on the way. Finding out that there were no documents on legality of timber the mentioned truck was taken to the specially protected area of Dilijan Division of the RA Police and materials were prepared which according to subordination were sent to Tavush Division of the RA Police.

In order to avoid criminal or administrative liability and to present the illegally acquired timber as legal, the truck driver asked another resident of the same community for help and the latter for the purpose to help the mentioned person turned to the head of Dilijan Division of Tavush Regional Department of the RA Police. The latter, fostering the person who had asked him for help, and abusing his official authorities reached an agreement with the head of Tavush Division of the RA Police after which, within the agreement, the truck driver submitted a false invoice to the investigative body. Based on it a decision was made to reject initiation of criminal case on the mentioned incident.   

A criminal case was initiated according to the Part 1 of the Article 308 (abuse of official authority) of RA Criminal Code which was sent to the RA Special Investigatory Service, according to investigative subordination.

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