A criminal case has been opened on the fact of destruction of forests in Lachin by the Armenian Armed Forces

Baku/21.06.21/Turan: The Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan has initiated criminal proceedings due to the destruction of forests by Armenia in the Lachin district.

The press service of the Prosecutor General's Office reported that the armed forces of Armenia, contrary to norms and principles of international law, as well as requirements of the European Convention on the Protection of Wildlife and the Environment- 1979, committed acts of environmental terrorism by deliberately destroying forests of valuable and perennial trees on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

The suspicions have been verified that on the instructions of the military-political leadership of Armenia, its armed forces illegally cut down 1,818 trees of various species in the Lachin district notable for its rare species of flora and fauna.

The Prosecutor's General Office estimated the damage caused to the environment of Azerbaijan in the amount of 1,511,330 manats.

In fact, the Prosecutor General's Office has opened a criminal case under Article 259.2.4 (illegal cutting of trees with large-scale damage) and other Articles of the Criminal Code.

The preliminary investigation was entrusted to the Investigative Department.

Investigative measures are underway.—06D-