Officials from a forestry enterprise in Vitsyebsk Region have been detained for allegedly organizing illegal hunting activities, the Interior Ministry’s press service said.
“From the summer of 2025 to the present, the perpetrators received illegal financial rewards for services related to organizing and conducting hunting tours for foreign nationals. As part of these tours, they provided their personal and rented weapons, resulting in the illegal killing of wild animals, including species listed in the country’s Red Book,” the Interior Ministry’s press service said, describing the police version of events.
The operation was carried out with the support of the Almaz special forces unit. Eight people were detained in total, including six foreign nationals and one individual with a previous criminal conviction. Officers seized six hunting firearms, 500 rounds of ammunition, sound suppressors, cash, as well as meat and hides of red deer and brown bears.
A criminal case has been opened. Environmental damage has been preliminarily estimated at 150,000 Belarusian roubles.
