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Two former executives of Alrosa PJSC detained under investigation into flooding of underground mine and death of workers

The Sakha Republican Investigations Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia pressed charges against former Chief of еру Mir underground mine Alexey Burkser and former Acting Chief Technology Officer of this enterprise Alexander Mann for committing an offence under Part 3 of Article 216 of the Criminal Code of Russia (violation of safety rules during mining that has entailed by negligence the death of eight persons and serious material damage).

In July 2017, signs of water breakthrough had appeared in the Mir mine, within the boundaries of hazardous areas, due to significant geological deterioration. Despite the fact that the Chief and Acting Chief Technical Officer had possessed information on the emergency situation, they had failed to shut the work of the underground mine and to take measures to get the workers out of the hazardous area of the mine, which had led to a tragedy. On August 4, 2017, an accident had occurred and taken the lives of eight mine workers.

In order to establish the involvement of the former mine executives in the offense, the investigation carried out a significant volume of investigative activities and complicated examinations, including a complex mining engineering documentary forensic examination. Operational support is provided by officers of the Regional Directorate of the Federal Security Service of Russia who assisted in the detention of both perpetrators.

Upon investigative motion, the court ruled to keep both accused individuals in custody since Burkser had actively tried to hide from the investigation and Mann to obstruct the investigation.

The criminal investigation is ongoing. The investigation is establishing the involvement of other Alrosa PJSC executives in the accident.

Investigative activities