A video of two users, filmed in Azerbaijan’s Lachin region, has emerged in the social network. The users on the video allegedly hunted roe deer and made a barbecue from it. According to the press service of the Azerbaijani Interior, these are residents of the Lachin region Agil Khurshudov and Vugar Atakishiyev.

They were detained by officers of the Lachin District Department, where they gave explanations. The detainees reported that they were engaged in beekeeping, and for this reason they were allowed to move their farms to Lachin. They also reported that they did not hunt roe deer.

They said that when they waded across the river, they saw a roe deer whose two legs were injured after being hit by a stream on stones, so they stabbed it and cooked it over the fire.

As it turns out, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources is also preparing an appeal to law enforcement agencies in connection with the incident. According to the reports published in the media in connection with this event, it is said that it is forbidden to hunt roe deer, since it is included in the “Red Book” of Azerbaijan.

The Garagol State Natural Reserve and the Lachin State Natural Reserve are located on the territory of the liberated Lachin region. According to the Biodiversity Conservation Service of the Ministry of Ecology, on the territory of the Lachin State Nature Reserve, created in 1961, before the occupation by Armenia, there was a European roe deer listed in the “Red Book” of the Azerbaijan Republic. In general, c. capreolus subspecies is the most widespread in Azerbaijan. Capreolus is a European roe deer that is considered relatively small.

As for its entering the “Red Book” of the Republic of Azerbaijan, it should be noted that the “Red Book” is a book that includes the names of endangered species of animals and plants. "Red Books" can be international, national and regional.

Such a book also exists in Azerbaijan. By the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 125 dated July 15, 2000, the Regulation on the “Red Book” of the Republic of Azerbaijan was approved. According to this decree, the "Red Book" of the Azerbaijan Republic is drawn up in accordance with the laws "On Animal World" and “On Environmental Protection.” Rare and endangered species of animals and plants living in natural conditions on the territory of the country are included in the “Red Book” of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

According to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, this species is included in the 2nd edition of the "Red Book" of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2013. The article, published in the Book, notes that the number of European roe deer in Azerbaijan has decreased by 60-65% compared with the data of the first half of the 20th century and is about 1,000-1,200 heads. The article lists natural and anthropogenic factors as the reasons for this decline, such as forest fires, landslides, floods, poaching, grazing of domestic animals on summer pastures and deforestation.

By the way, despite the ban, there is enough information in Azerbaijan about roe deer hunting and even about keeping them in some recreation centers in order to attract customers. On the Ecology Ministry’s website, there are frequent messages of this kind.

There was no up-to-date information in ooen sources on the number of European roe deer in Azerbaijan. Elshad Askerov, head of the Azerbaijan office of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), said that due to the excessive reduction in the number of this species in Azerbaijan, it is listed in the “Red Book.” Some sources say that in the 50s and 60s of the last century, the European roe deer was found in all regions of Azerbaijan. At present, it has completely disappeared in the Kura-Araz lowland, and in other territories, it is on the verge of extinction.

In June 2019, the State Hunting Supervision Service of the Ministry of Ecology published the names of animals that are allowed and prohibited to hunt in Azerbaijan. The head of the service, Fuzuli Mammadov, noted that hunting for birds and animals whose names are included in the “Red Book” of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the International “Red List” is not allowed. The roe deer, along with the gazelle, the red deer, the marten, the chamois, the brown bear, the panther and others, are included in the list of animals that are prohibited for hunting.

As for fines and punishments for illegal hunting, according to Article 291 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (Violation of requirements for the protection of species of animals and plants listed in the Red Book) for failure to comply with the requirements for the protection of species of animals and plants listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Azerbaijan and which are under special protection, a fine is provided in the amount of 500-700 manats.

In the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, fines and penalties for illegal hunting are more severe. According to article 258 of the Code (Illegal hunting), for hunting without proper permission or in prohibited places or at prohibited times using prohibited tools and methods, causing significant damage (from 1,000 to 7,000 manats), the following types of punishment are provided: a fine from 2,000 to 3,000 manats, or community service from 240 to 320 hours, or correctional labor for up to a year, or restriction of liberty for up to one year.

The same act committed against birds and animals, the hunting of which is completely prohibited, is punishable by a fine in the amount of 3,000 to 6,000 manats, or correctional labor for up to one year, or restraint of liberty for up to two years, or imprisonment for up to two years.

Also, according to the "Rules for the implementation of state supervision in the field of protection and use of wildlife," the amount of damage per roe deer is set at 220 manats.