Penalties for illegal hunting toughened
By Amina Nazarli
The fine for illegal hunting was increased by 20 times in Azerbaijan.
These changes were made to the Article 258 (Illegal Hunting) of the Criminal Code.
Under the amendments, hunting, carried out without proper authorization or in restricted areas, or in the forbidden time, or by prohibited tools and methods, and if this act entailed causing significant damage, is punished with a fine in the amount of 2,000 to 3,000 manats ($1,185-$1.777).
Earlier, the fine for this criminal act was between 100 and 500 manats ($59-$296).
Besides, If the same act is committed, with the causing of major damage, with the use of explosives or other methods of mass destruction of birds and animals, on the territory of the reserve or in the zone of ecological disaster or in the zone of an emergency ecological situation, the violators will be punished in the amount of 3000 to 6000 manats ($1.778-$3,556) (previously from 100 to 1,000 manats).
Earlier, the fine for illegal catching of fish and other water animals was increased by 20 times.
The amendment was made to the Article 256.1 [Illegal catching of a fish and other water animals] of the Criminal Code.
The illegal catching of a fish or other water animals, causing damage in the significant size [the sum starting from 400 manats ($235) up to 1,000 manats ($587)] is punished by the penalty at a rate from 2,000 ($1,175) up to 3,000 ($1,762) manats, according to the change.
If the same act is committed, causing damage in the larger amount [over 1,000 manats ($587)] , by using self-propelled transport means or explosive and chemical substances, or means of mass destruction of a fish or other water animals on territory of reserve, or on zone of an extreme or dangerous ecological situation, it is punished by the penalty at a rate from 100 ($58) up to 1,000 manats ($587), or corrective works for the term up to 1 year, or imprisonment for the term up to 2 years.
If these acts committed by a person with use of the service position or on preliminary arrangement by group of persons or by organized group, it is punished by the penalty at a rate from 1,000 ($587) up to 2,000 manats ($1,175), or with imprisonment for the term from 2 up to 5 years with deprivation of the right to hold the certain posts or to engage in the certain activities for the term up to 3 years.
--
Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @amina_nazarli
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz