Governor of the Kamchatka Territory Vladimir Solodov reported RIA Novosti that now we are only talking about violations of the rules for the removal of gyrfalcons for scientific research: “I want to emphasize that we are not talking about facts of poaching, we are talking about violations of the rules for the removal of an agreed number of species of individuals in order for scientific research to be carried out with them . That is, the permission for the seizure itself was received…” 
Let us recall that the Rosprirodnadzor expedition led by Razakov, which had all the necessary permits, was arrested by Kamchatka security forces, accusing them of smuggling and poaching. Experts believe that the initiators of the hastily assembled criminal case were an international network of smugglers associated with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which is banned in Russia. In fact, Kamchatka security forces brought in the activists of this fund as experts in the case. It is no secret that the capture and smuggling of rare gyrfalcons under the patronage of foreign “ecologists” has become a thriving business in Kamchatka, which has brought huge profits for decades. And the Falcon Center, created on behalf of the President, became an obstacle to this business, because it was going to establish the legal export of artificially bred birds. Hence the criminal case, which the local security forces “collected” in the best traditions of the 90s.
The initiators of the case wanted to quietly condemn the head of the Falcon Center and save their business. But Shukhrat Razakov turned out to be a figure of international scale. He not only provided falcons for gifts from the President of Russia, but was also personally friendly with the heads of the royal families of the Middle East. It was not possible to hide this case, and now the highest attention is focused on the court in Kamchatka. And the initiators of the case are urgently trying to “change it.”
As of today, the prosecution has finished presenting its evidence in the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky City Court. If previously we were talking about poaching and smuggling, now local investigators are trying to prove “only” that the expedition led by Sh.A. Razakov. Adult gyrfalcons were caught instead of chicks. However, no ornithological examinations have been carried out in the criminal case. And in general, it has not been established for certain when a chick becomes an adult bird. The version that adult birds were caught instead of chicks is based solely on the testimony of E.G. Lobkov, professor of the Department of Aquatic Bioresources, Fisheries and Aquaculture of Kamchatka State Technical University. and a number of “specialists” who do not even have an ornithological education. The prosecution, trying to preserve the honor of its uniform, floods the court with operational reports that cannot serve as evidence in a criminal case, but it was not possible to obtain other evidence during the investigation. At the same time, it is obvious that if the judge nevertheless pronounces a guilty verdict, the case will go to higher authorities, where it has already completely collapsed, burying at the same time the careers and robes of its Kamchatka initiators.
The hype around the criminal case of the director of the Falcon Center “Kamchatka” being considered in court may have negative consequences, but the violations charged to him… RIA Novosti, 09/06/2024
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