Disposal of "illegal caviar" in Russia

Selections from a large photoset at English Russia.  The accompanying text says the caviar was destroyed after being "declared inedible," but logic says that this non-state-sanctioned harvest is being kept off the market to keep prices propped up.

I can't conceive of a reason to burn it before burial (presumably a show for the cameras), but what saddens me is to think of how many sturgeon were killed to obtain caviar that is being buried, since presumably the rogue harvesters were not utilizing modern fish milking techniques.