Recently, it was reported that State inspectors observed illegal logging near the settlement of Lipovy Skitok on January 10, 2025.

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This incident gained significant attention and stirred public and expert discourse. Subsequently, the "Capital Forest Office" issued a clarification, stating that legal timber harvesting was conducted on a 7.8-hectare plot. All activities were carried out based on a logging ticket issued on October 23, 2024.

The State Environmental Inspection explained that the situation does not align with the current legislation.

The State Environmental Inspection of the Capital District, upon reviewing a publication posted on the "Capital Forest" branch's web page on Facebook, reported the following.

They stated: "We inform you that at the end of 2024, legal timber harvesting was conducted on a 7.8-hectare plot. All work was carried out based on a logging ticket issued on October 23, 2024. This document serves as the primary permit confirming legality," - said the State Environmental Inspection of the Capital District. During the event, it was established that, according to the logging ticket dated October 23, 2024, the timber harvesting work was supposed to be completed by December 31, 2024.

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However, during the inspection of the forest area on January 10, 2025, state inspectors, along with police officers, discovered a significant amount of unaccounted timber (i.e., without the appropriate tags), approximately 100 units, confirming that logging occurred after the expiration of the logging ticket, specifically after December 31, 2024.

Regarding the claim that: "in early 2025, no new timber harvesting was conducted in the specified area. Only work was performed on the processing of already felled pine trunks. It is important to emphasize that no new trees were cut down," - during a joint inspection by police officers and state inspectors, it was found that trees marked at the root collar for cutting were also present on the site but had not been felled as of January 10, 2025. This indicates that timber harvesting activities were indeed taking place on this site, rather than merely processing previously felled trees.

Concerning the assertion that: "according to the logging ticket, forestry workers burned logging residues after timber harvesting. This is a common practice," - we note that both individuals and legal entities conducting work in the forest are prohibited, among other things, from burning vegetation or its remnants in the forest, as well as on other land adjacent to the forest, which constitutes a direct violation of the norms established by the "Procedure for Organizing the Protection and Conservation of Forests."