Updated | Wild Birds Regulation Unit head ‘abusing power to stop illegalities being exposed’ – BirdLife

BirdLife Malta said today that emails sent to it by the head of the Wild Birds Regulation Unit, Sergei Golovkin, sought to intimidate the NGO’s officials from rescuing injured birds in “an attempt to silence the organisation from exposing the impact of illegal hunting.”

In an email exchange regarding photos of protected birds which were shot during recent weeks, Golovkin retorted that BirdLife Malta were acting illegally in collecting these birds. In a series of emails published by the environmental organisation, Golovkin says:

“It does not appear to be the case that BirdLife (Malta) has any authorisation to process, control or keep any specimen of any bird, whether alive or dead, nor to kill any live birds by performing euthanasia on veterinary grounds. Kindly be guided by the above legal provisions accordingly.”

In a statement, the WBRU denied that it was trying to intimidate BirdLife, only to remind them to keep to the law that prohibits the possession or keeping of any birds, or their culling, unless authorized under Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations. 

It added that BirdLife Malta isn’t covered by the Director of Veterinary Service’s authoritisation to possess, control or keep any specimen of any bird, whether alive or dead, nor to euthanise any live birds on veterinary grounds.

“Unlike what is being claimed by BirdLife Malta, the authorities’ action is not an attempt to prevent the organization from rescuing shot birds and raising awareness about the impact of illegal hunting,” the WBRU. “BirdLife is free to exercise its functions and to raise awareness about illegal hunting as it deems fit, however its actions must not go beyond the provisions of the law, which applies to everyone.” 

In a statement, BirdLife had questioned the motive behind the warning, arguing that a judge had aruled that BirdLife carried out such work in the best interest of birds. It also said that this practice was also recognised by the government which in turn provided the organisation a building to use as a rehabilitation centre for shot and injured birds.

In addition, the NGO said that the legal provisions quoted by Golovkin included an exemption whereby possession of a protected bird may be allowed if it is required for the rehabilitation, veterinary or other treatment.

Nicholas Barbara, BirdLife Malta Conservation Manager, said this was a clear attempt by Golovkin to intimidate BirdLife and that his behaviour echoes that of hunting lobby FKNK as the latter had filed a police challenge so police would institute criminal charges against BirdLife members posing with injured birds who had been shot.  

“This is a clear attempt by Golovkin to intimidate our staff and prevent us from rescuing shot birds and raising awareness about the impacts of illegal hunting.”

“Not only is his claim invalid, but his behaviour is simply an abuse of power, and not what the public expect from the head of a government unit which should be working in favour of exposing the illegal killing of birds … Sergei Golovkin is abusing his position of power within the unit to push forth what the FKNK have failed in doing – silencing us from exposing such illegalities.”

“Exposing the illegal hunting of birds, which authorities such as the Wild Birds Regulation Unit should be curtailing rather than concealing, is something we will continue to do regardless,” Barbara held.