News

The fifth office of the Investigative Committee’s Directorate based in the city of Novosibirsk continued the investigation into the death of people in Irkutsk after they drank liqueur (Part 3 of Article 238 of the RF Penal Code – production, storage, selling of goods and products that do not meet safety standards entailing death of two or more people by negligence).

According to investigators, from 16 to 20 December 2016, Irkutsk police department received some 100 reports on methanol poisoning and found dead bodies of the poisoned. As of now, 58 people are dead and 41 more remain under treatment in hospitals. All the instances of poisoning and death are connected to drinking alcohol-containing haw liqueur intended for taking baths and that contain methanol.

By now there are 12 detainees – they are sole proprietors and their employees involved in selling the said liqueur on street markets in Irkutsk and other places.

Today the investigators are asking courts to impose restraint on 9 of the suspects. The decision about the rest of the detainees will be made later. The investigation is ongoing.

Acting Head of Media Relations                                                                                                              S.L. Petrenko