EcoLur
Recently the press published information that a criminal case had been initiated against Nature Protection Ministry, particularly in regard with the problems of issuing water use permits and soil management. The stir started from the publication in the “Zhoghovurd” newspaper, which said, “Nature Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan has “black clouds” above his head, as the Public Prosecutor’s Office and Police are actively dealing with the water resources supplying Ararat Valley.”
Public Prosecutor’s Office Advisor in Public Relations Christine Melkonyan said, “Yes, a criminal case has been initiated, nevertheless, we can’t publicize any information due to the confidentiality of the preliminary investigation.”
The Press Service of the Public Prosecutor’s Office only informed that the criminal case was initiated according to Article 291 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (Breaching rules for soil preservation and use).
In this regard EcoLur had an interview with Armen Vardanyan, Head of Information and Public Relations Department of Nature Protection Ministry, and got the following clarification, “What about the publication in the press we would like to say that the Nature Protection Ministry has conducted statutory examinations to check the legal grounds of using deep wells in Ararat Valley in recent 3-4 years.”
The materials referring to the illegal deep wells detected due to examinations have been passed to the law enforcement bodies, who are currently conducting an investigation.”
Armen Vardanyan didn’t confirm the initiation of a criminal case based on Article 291 of the Criminal Code of Armenia.
January 16, 2014 at 17:00