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8 participants of the criminal case regarding the explosions in Raspadskaya mine which entailed the death of 91 persons will come before the court

Criminal investigations regarding explosions of Raspadskaya mine in  Mezhdurechensk of the Kemerovo Region which entailed the death of 91 people including its employees, mine rescuers of the Novokuznetsk separate paramilitary mine rescue troop and others has been finished by the main investigation department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. Technical Director of "Coal Company Raspadskaya" Anatoly Ryzhov, the director of "Raspadskaya" and the deputy of the Director General of "Coal Company Raspadskaya" Igor Volkov, the chief engineer of "Raspadskaya" Andrey Druzhinin, commander of the Novokuznetsk separate paramilitary mine rescue troop Alexander Apalkov, Ventilation, degassing and prevention service manager Vladislav Waltz, ventilation and safety section manager Vyacheslav Radtsev and shift manager Igor Belov are being accused on a criminal case. They are accused of committing crimes in violation of Article 217, part 3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violation of the rules of safety on explosive facilities which entailed the death of two or more people because of carelessness). In addition, the state inspector of the Mezhdurechensk territory mining surveillance department of the technological and ecological supervision of Rostekhnadzor for the Kemerovo Region Fedor Veremeenko was accused in violation of Article 293 part 3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (negligence entailed the death of two or more people because of carelessness).

Investigators believe that on May 8, 2010 methane-air mixture and coal dust exploded in the grooves of coal mine Raspadskaya of the Kemerovo Region. On the following day a repeat explosion occurred. As a result of the accident 91 out of 361 people been in the mine died and 146 - sustained injuries of various severity degrees and moral and physical sufferings. Violations of the Safety Rules in coal mines that had become the  tragedy cause were systemic and continuous during several years.

As investigation shows the accident was caused by a desire of the enterprise management to increase volumes of coal mining and of financial profit consequently. Safe volume of coal mining in size not exceeding 8 thousand tons a day for an area was provided for by the major project developed by a research institute. Ryzhov, Druzhinin, Volkov, Waltz, and Radtsev devised and approved own industry documentation in violation of set rules of safety in accordance with which coal mining respectively reached 21,5 thousand tons. Control over an organization of implementation of dust-explosion proofness events in the mine which was not de facto exercised belonged to Veremeenko's responsibilities. On May 8, 2010 shift manager Belov approved orders for implementation of works in the mine, knowing in veracity about explosive situation in there. As a result of systematic violations of the safety rules the first explosion which entailed the death of 65 people occurred.

The chief engineer Druzhinin who was de facto self-dismissed from fulfilment of obligations entrusted to him had to manage emergency containment under the plan approved by the mentioned persons. Technical Director Ryzhov who did not also take necessary measures had to assume management or appoint a one responsible for its implementation. Instead of it shift manager Belov and the mine director Volkov directed not less than 140 next shift employees for pressurization of abovemine buildings in conditions of real threat of a repeat explosion. In his turn, Commander of a mountain-rescue troop Apalkov sent subordinates not having the status of rescuers also for establishment of circumstances of the accident and rescueing people from the mine. Investigation found saving them by that moment had not appeared possible any more, veracity, the leader of the troop had known that. Apalkov also knew there was potentially explosive methane concentration in the mine and repeat explosion was inevitable, and it occurred at the moment of people descent to the mine. There were 19 people in its epicentrum, they did not have any chance to survive. In addition, mountains-rescuer and six next shift employees present on the surface died.

At present Druzhinin, Ryzhov, and Waltz are kept under guard, the measure of restraint not related to imprisonment was chosen for the rest of the participants. In the course of investigation Druzhinin and Ryzhov acknowledged their guilt and gave evidences on systematic violations of the rules of safety in the mine, the rest of the participants denies its involvement in alleged crimes.

Adequate evidentiary base has been collected by investigation, therefore the criminal case with an approved indictment has been directed to the court for consideration on the merits.

Head of Media Relations V.I. Markin