Ex-Director of Kirzinsky Reserve Sentenced in Court
Unleashing the full story:
The Barabinsky District Court has slapped a heavy sentence on the former director of the Kirzinsky Nature Reserve, Vyacheslav Ermolik. Accused of six counts of poaching, nine counts of bribery, abuse of power, exceeding authority, illegal weapons possession, and organizing hunting activities, he's been left with no escape.
The judgement towers with an 8-year imprisonment term at a strict-regime correctional colony and a hefty fine of 1.5 million rubles. To top it off, he finds himself barred from activities related to state oversight of protected natural territories, and wildlife conservation for the next three years.
Ermolik has been nailed for:
- Committing unlawful hunting on specially protected natural territories (4 counts) and organizing such activities (2 counts).
- Receiving bribes in the form of money, property, and services in exchange for illegal favors, like organizing illegal hunting, disregarding established procedures, and allowing cattle grazing and motorized floating means during specific navigation periods.
- Actions exceeding his authority, causing significant state interest violations.
With these crimes adding up, plus an ammunition-hoarding offense underpart 1 of Article 222 of the Russian Criminal Code, Yermolik's fate seems sealed.
Yermolik's case of bribery under part 2 of Article 290 of the Russian Criminal Code was dismissed due to the expired statute of limitations for criminal prosecution.
Confiscated by the state were proceeds from criminal activities and tools used for the crime, along with 599,718 rubles of bribe money.
Prosecutor's civil claims worth 600,000 rubles, 740,000 rubles, and 760,000 rubles were denied due to voluntary satisfaction by other co-conspirators. The Barabinsky Interregional Prosecutor's Office's claim to recover material damage caused by the crime was satisfied, amounting to 6,000 rubles.
The arrest on Yermolik's property and funds in bank accounts (deposits) remains in effect until the execution of the court's decision regarding the civil claim, fine, and confiscation of funds (the bribe item).
A not-guilty verdict and acquittal have been handed to Ermolik in regards to the crimes under part 3 of Article 290 (bribery for illegal actions) and part 1 of Article 285 of the Russian Criminal Code (abuse of office). He stands rehabilitated.
The verdict has yet to take effect.
The discovery of a slaughtered deer and moose site three kilometers from a hunting lodge on the Kirzinsky Nature Reserve's territory in December 2022 ignited a storm of accusations against Ermolik. Earlier in the year, three poachers had already been apprehended.
A new criminal case was launched under Part 3 of Article 290 of the Russian Criminal Code - "Receiving a bribe."
Yermolik's trial began in the Barabinsky District Court on April 15, 2024. Prior to the trial, he expressed to Sibkray.ru his belief that the case was a "vendetta." Allegedly, he claimed to have assembled a wealth of documents that would supposedly prove his innocence. He reportedly revealed who, in his opinion, was seeking revenge against him, to Sibkray.ru's editorial team.
- The Barabinsky District Court found Vyacheslav Ermolik, the former director of the Kirzinsky Nature Reserve, guilty of bribery, as a new criminal case was launched under Part 3 of Article 290 of the Russian Criminal Code.
- Ermolik's trial, related to the slaughtered deer and moose site discovered on the Kirzinsky Nature Reserve's territory, began in the Barabinsky District Court on April 15, 2024.
- Despite expressing his belief that the case was a "vendetta," Ermolik's not-guilty verdict and acquittal regarding the crimes under part 3 of Article 290 and part 1 of Article 285 of the Russian Criminal Code were dismissed due to the evidence presented.
- The prosecution's civil claims against Ermolik were also dismissed, but the confiscation of funds from his bank accounts and proceeds from his criminal activities remain in effect until the execution of the court's decision.
