Reports circulated widely on social media on Monday claiming that one of the lions seized from businessman and former MP Gagik Tsarukyan’s residence did not survive after being sedated. The information has not been officially confirmed.
On the previous day, Armenia’s Investigative Committee announced that three lions and one tiger had been seized from Tsarukyan’s property as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
According to the committee, investigators also confiscated 190 taxidermy specimens of various animals and birds. The animals were recognized as evidence in the case and transferred to Yerevan Zoo.
The Investigative Committee said the case concerns the illegal hunting of wild animals or birds and stated that the alleged offenses caused environmental damage estimated at 30 million Armenian drams.
Responding to an inquiry from MediaHub, Yerevan City Hall said it had no information confirming the reports about the lion and noted that investigative actions are ongoing.
Commenting on the seizure, Iveta Tonoyan, spokesperson for the Prosperous Armenia Party, said that hunting is a personal interest for many people and that, when conducted in accordance with the law and in permitted locations, it is not prohibited.
