A criminal case has been launched in the Surkhandarya province following an armed assault on rangers at the Surkhan State Nature Reserve, the State Committee for Ecology and Environmental Protection reported.
While patrolling the Sherzhon sector, environmental inspectors spotted three individuals carrying hunting rifles. The men ignored repeated orders to halt.
According to the agency, the poachers opened fire toward the reserve staff before abandoning their backpacks and fleeing the scene. A subsequent inspection of the discarded bags revealed the butchered remains of two wild animals.
Authorities have since identified the suspects. The case files have been handed over to the local district police department, and a criminal investigation has been initiated under Part 3 of Article 202 of the Criminal Code, which covers violations of regulations on the use of flora and fauna. The investigation remains ongoing.
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