The Specialized Environmental Prosecutor’s Office of the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Kherson Regional Prosecutor’s Office have, for the first time, issued a historic Notice of Suspicion – for a war crime against the environment in the case of the pillage of the Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve. Prosecutors have accused the so-called director of the Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve (which is named after F.E. Falz-Fein) of violating the laws and customs of war, committed in collusion with a group of individuals.
According to the investigation, the accused, in conspiracy with representatives of Russian reserves, illegally transferred rare and endangered animal species to the territory of the Russian Federation. The transferred animals included Chapman’s zebras, American bison, Père David’s deer, and Przewalski’s horses. The latter are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine and are under special protection. The total damage caused to the reserve exceeds 22 million UAH.
Askania-Nova is the oldest nature reserve in Ukraine and the largest steppe reserve in Europe. It is part of the international network of biosphere reserves under the UNESCO program and is protected by the Hague Convention.
Since February 24, 2022, the reserve’s territory has been under temporary occupation by Russian forces, and as of March 2023, it has been under de facto control by the occupying authorities.
Legal advisers from GRC’s Environmental Mobile Justice Team (MJT) continue to support the Kherson Prosecutor’s Office in investigating and prosecuting war crimes committed against the environment. The announcement of a notice of suspicion for a war crime against the environment is the first step toward holding perpetrators accountable for environmental harm as well.
“The natural environment is an often-overlooked casualty of armed conflict. This Notice of Suspicion sends the message that this will no longer be the case; pillaging Ukraine’s protected natural resources will not be tolerated. The harm caused by Russian perpetrators on the territory of Ukraine is horrific, and they must be held accountable. For our part, GRC will do everything we can to support Ukrainian law enforcement in achieving this goal.” said Donna Cline, Environmental MJT Lead.
The unlawful transfer of animals committed by the so-called director of the reserve constitutes the war crime of pillage. It violates Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and Articles 28 and 56 of the Fourth Hague Convention on the Laws and Customs of War on Land.
The sentence for this crime includes imprisonment for a term of 8 to 12 years. Other perpetrators in the crime are currently being identified.
GRC’s Environmental Mobile Justice Team is a part of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA). The ACA is a multilateral initiative established by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom to support and assist Ukrainian law enforcement and prosecutors in investigating and prosecuting international crimes committed during a full-scale war.