Fishery Protection Service Officer Shoots at Car Tires but Woman Leaves

**kellyhound** · #1 ● 07-09-2026, 04:32 AM

In russia, a conflict occurred between local residents and fish inspectors when inspectors demanded to open the car trunk and show the fish, which, according to them, was caught illegally. The residents however refused, claiming that the about 20 fish were purchased.

The girl, whose car contained the fish, tried to leave. One of the inspectors grabbed a rifle and shot at the car wheels, after which she left the scene of the incident.

An investigative operational group was immediately dispatched to the scene of the incident. The participants of the conflict were identified and questioned. The findings collected during the check will be sent to the competent authorities for decision-making in accordance with the law.

Fishery inspectors do have the authority to check vehicles near designated fishing zones, but the law draws a strict line between two actions as an inspector can look through the car windows from the outside. Forcing a driver to open the trunk constitutes a formal search.

Under russian law, a citizen has the right to demand that a formal search only take place in the presence of two independent witnesses or under continuous video recording and a formal protocol must be written on the spot.

The residents' refusal to open the trunk without these protections was legally justified.

While inspectors in this area are authorized to carry firearms for self-defense and anti-poaching enforcement, the use of force is strictly regulated.

Firearms may generally only be used if there is an immediate threat to the life or safety of the inspector, or to stop a vehicle involved in a severe, violent crime.

Because the driver was fleeing an administrative check regarding roughly 20 fish, rather than committing a violent felony, the inspector faces a high risk of being prosecuted for Abuse of Power with the Use of Weapons (Article 286, Part 3 of the Criminal Code of the russian Federation).

Even if the fish were legally bought, russian law requires transport certificates or sales receipts for valuable species in these regions to prove they do not originate from poaching.

If the residents cannot provide a receipt, they could face administrative fines or criminal charges for illegal fishing (Article 256 of the Criminal Code), though this would be treated as a separate matter from the inspector's use of a firearm.

Fines can be 2,000 to 5,000 rubles for citizens, plus confiscation of fishing gear and the vehicle used.

Russia uses a fixed damages calculator per individual fish specimen, regardless of its size or weight. In this area for Pacific salmon, Chum Salmon 2,007 rubles per fish. Pink Salmon 961 rubles per fish. Coho or Sockeye Salmon 11,575 rubles per fish.

If the fish are caught during the official seasonal spawning closure, the fine per fish doubles (e.g., over 4,000 rubles per single Chum salmon).

For the 20 specimens found in the car, if they are determined to be illegally poached Chum salmon during a restricted period, the financial damage calculation alone would exceed 80,000 rubles.