Illegal Logging Cover-Up and Bribery Involvement of Police Official Revealed

The Special Investigative Service of Armenia has established, based on sufficient evidence gathered in a criminal case, that A.D., a senior inspector of the community police division of the Gugark department of the Lori Regional Police, received bribes from residents involved in illegal logging in exchange for failing to address and cover up such incidents.

According to information provided by the SIS, Lori resident H.H. learned that materials were being prepared regarding an illegal logging incident involving approximately one cubic meter of linden and oak wood that he committed in November 2019. He informed his friend A.S. about the situation. To assist H.H., A.S. met with the officials of the Gugark police department, including senior inspector A.D.

A.D., influenced by personal interests stemming from his acquaintance A.S., distorted the actual circumstances of the case during the preliminary investigation, performing a superficial examination in a different location where H.H. had not actually logged. He concealed the fact that H.H. had illegally felled linden wood and decided to refuse the initiation of a criminal case.

As a result of A.D.'s illegal actions, the damage to nature was minimized, and H.H. only faced an administrative fine of 14,850 AMD. Subsequently, A.S. encouraged H.H. to bribe A.D., who personally received the bribe amount in Vanadzor.

Additionally, after stopping another resident of Lori, A.S., with a vehicle loaded with illegally felled wood, A.D. intentionally failed to perform his official duties, and using his position against the interests of the service, he demanded and received a bribe from A.S. to not legally pursue the illegal logging incident and to exempt him from liability.

During the investigation, it was also revealed that A.S. had committed false accusations, wrongfully alleging that police officers had tortured him and abused their official powers. He provided untrue testimonies to the SIS, claiming that officers had allegedly tortured him and coerced him to confess to giving bribes to police officers. Under alleged duress and threats, he gave testimony that he had engaged in illegal logging and had bribed police officers.

A.D. has been charged under Article 308, Part 1 (2 instances) and Article 311, Part 2 (2 instances) of the Criminal Code of Armenia. H.H. has been charged under Article 312, Part 1, and A.S., who solicited the bribe, has been charged under Article 38-312, Part 1; another Lori resident, A.S., has been charged under Article 312, Part 1 and Article 333, Part 2, Clause 1.

The preliminary investigation concerning these four defendants has been completed. The criminal case has been sent to the supervising prosecutor for approval and to be forwarded to the court.

Notice: A person suspected of or charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia by a legally binding court verdict.