The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Ecology are trying to avoid responsibility for the culling of saiga antelopes, which was permitted in the country based on some calculation of damage allegedly caused by the steppe antelope.
According to ORDA, the partial destruction of the animals was allowed under the pretext that saigas are harming farmers. However, officials have still been unable to assess this damage.
It is noted that as early as 30 May, Vice Minister of Agriculture Amangaliy Berdalin stated that the department had no mechanism for calculating the damage caused by the steppe antelope.
In turn, on 5 June, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nysanbayev went so far as to say that the farmers themselves should calculate the damage.
"It is not for us to ask them to calculate it; they must do it themselves... The farmers themselves should identify the damage, and then the local executive bodies and the Ministry of Agriculture will respond. We are responsible for protecting saigas.", said Nysanbayev on the sidelines of the Mazhilis.
Let us recall that earlier the editorial board of FBRK compiled a full timeline of the campaign to 'regulate the numbers' of saiga antelopes. Details can be found here and here.