A moratorium on inspections of entrepreneurs was imposed due to an unauthorized fence on the Bermamyt plateau.

A fence was erected illegally on the Bermamyt mountain plateau in Karachay-Cherkessia, but regulatory agencies and law enforcement are limited by a moratorium on inspections of entrepreneurs, a Ministry of Natural Resources employee reported. The contactless inspection mechanism is still available to officials, the ecologist countered.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," social media users reported that the access to the edge of the Bermamyt plateau is fenced with barbed wire and a barrier, and tenants are now demanding 100 rubles to enter the area. They called for an investigation into the legality of the tenants' activities.

The Bermamyt plateau is part of the Khasautsky Nature Reserve. Local residents are permitted certain economic activities in this area, including grazing. However, one entrepreneur, who raises livestock commercially, has illegally fenced off part of the pasture. Although this is a violation, due to a moratorium on inspections of entrepreneurs, the environmental agency is unable to correct the violations, stated a source in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Karachay-Cherkessia.

"There are some activists there; they fenced off the area for grazing. But they have no right to impose any restrictions there—public lands are generally considered such, especially a nature reserve. People have the right to graze livestock, but they can't fence them off. Of course, we should file a complaint against them with the prosecutor's office and the police. But you know, law enforcement agencies are like that; they'll be looking for someone to do this work. Because, in fact, we have a moratorium on inspections of legal entities and private entrepreneurs until 2030. This also applies to law enforcement," a department employee told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on condition of anonymity.

Journalist Evgeny Kratov from Karachay-Cherkessia found it difficult to provide details about the situation on the Bermamyt Plateau, but believes there are many possible scenarios. "There are specific questions here: was there a land allocation, a sale, a transfer from nominally regional to private ownership, and who was involved. We need to look at the title documents," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Officials are simply using the moratorium to justify their inaction, says ecologist Valery Brinikh. "In cases where human life or health is threatened, inspections can and should be conducted with the prosecutor's office's permission. Because there are various situations when inspections are necessary. For example, certain products are being sold that are unfit for human consumption," he said.

According to the ecologist, there is also a contactless inspection method that can be used under the moratorium. "Without contact with the potential violator, it's possible to conduct an inspection and make a decision regarding the violation. The moratorium applies to in-person inspections involving the potential offender, but it's possible to conduct non-in-person inspections without that person's involvement. Then, a decision can be made and the fence demolished if it was erected without permission," Brinikh explained.

He pointed out that the decision following a non-in-person inspection can be made not only by the prosecutor's office but also by the relevant agency. "For example, the Karachay-Cherkessia branch of Rosprirodnadzor may decide to conduct an inspection without contacting the person who committed the violation. Incidentally, a fence can interfere with the migration of wild animals. A wildlife refuge is, after all, a protected area. Fence demolition can also be carried out by decision of this agency," Brinikh noted.