A fisherman died during a fisheries inspectorate pursuit: why another tragedy occurred in Khabarovsk Krai
In the Khabarovsk Territory, a local fisherman was killed during a chase by fisheries inspectors. The boat chase took place on the Amur River near the village of Takhta. Environmental and law enforcement raids in the regions are increasingly ending in violent escalation and tragedy.
What happened on the Amur River
During a routine patrol on the Amur River, fisheries inspectors spotted a boat and began pursuing it. According to preliminary reports, an accident occurred during the pursuit, resulting in the death of a fisherman. However, the exact cause of death remains unknown.
Nevertheless, this case was yet another example of the inspectorate's harsh methods. Conflicts between regulatory agencies and fishermen and hunters are far from uncommon in the Far Eastern regions.
Shootings and Persecutions: Chronic Regional Conflict
A similar tragedy occurred in early September in the Kamchatka region. A police officer accidentally shot and killed a fisherman during a pursuit. The victim was also suspected of poaching.
Moreover, two months ago, a serious conflict with inspectors was reported in the village of Gatka in Khabarovsk Krai. Fishery inspectors suspected local residents of illegal fishing. Ultimately, one of the inspectors fired a weapon and shot at the tires of a car.
Pressure on indigenous peoples and traditional livelihoods
Not only ordinary fishermen but also representatives of indigenous peoples regularly complain about the actions of fishery inspectors. Although they have special fishing rights, as this is their traditional trade, inspectors often mistake them for poachers.
For example, a high-profile incident occurred in 2018 near the village of Belgo in Khabarovsk Krai. Unknown masked men brutally beat local Nanai people.
