Minister of Environment Romanos Petrosyan wrote on his Facebook page.

“On 25 October, at 9:39 pm, the Tavush Regional Crisis Management Center received information that a traffic accident had taken place near the 15th km of the Berd-Chambarak highway.

I must mention with great sorrow that citizens who died and were injured as a result of the accident are the forest rangers of the Navur forestry of the “Artsvaberd” forestry branch of the “ArmForest” SNCO of the Forest Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture. During the night inspection, losing control of the car, they fell down the gorge.

The director of the “Artsvaberd” branch is now in one of the medical institutions of the capital with severe injuries, his life is not in danger.

I offer my condolences to the families, relatives and friends of our colleagues, I wish strength and endurance.

I am grateful to our partners for their dedicated and selfless service.

The accident took place in one of the most problematic regions, in the part of Artsvaberd forestry of Navur forest called “Ttu Jur” (sour water), where illegal logging has recently increased, and a number of cases of forest violations have been reported to law enforcement bodies.

This tragic incident is a signal that we must sober up and refrain from the harsh practice of illegal logging.”