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The Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia completed an investigation into a criminal case of a road accident on the federal highway "Astrakhan-Elista-Stavropol" involving a minibus carrying a children's basketball team.

The investigation established that on April 30, 2021 near 534 km of the above highway the driver of the vehicle "VAZ-2109" Maxim Larionov drove into the oncoming traffic lane and collided with a truck "DAF", as a result, the latter drove into the oncoming traffic lane and collided with a Mercedes minibus driven by Ruslan Nakhmetov that was transporting the basketball team of the Girls' Olympic Reserve Sports School No. 2 of Volgograd to Cherkessk for a sports competition.

As a result of the accident five girls died on the spot and five others received serious injuries.  

The trip was organized by the head of the sports institution Tatiana Astafieva with gross violations of the established rules, without notifying the traffic police, in a minibus that did not meet the requirements of the organized transportation of a group of children.

At the same time Nakhmetov transported children in a vehicle not equipped with seat belts for passengers.

The investigation established that Astafieva used her authority contrary to the interests of the service, expressed in the systematic receipt of money for renting the sports hall of the sports and recreation complex to a public organization.

It was also found that Nakhmetov used a fake labor booklet in his employment.

On the basis of the collected evidence Larionov was charged under Part 5 of Article 264 of the Criminal Code (violation of traffic rules, resulting in the death of two or more persons), Nakhmetov - under Part 3 of Article 238 of the Criminal Code (providing services that do not meet safety requirements, resulting in the death of two or more persons) and Part 3 of Article 327 of the Criminal Code (acquisition, storage, transportation for use and use of a knowingly forged official document, providing rights), Astafieva - under Part 3 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code (negligence, resulting in death of two or more persons) and Part 1 of Article 285 of the Criminal Code (abuse of official powers). With regard to Larionov, a preventive measure in the form of detention was chosen, Astafieva and Nakhmetov are under house arrest.

In order to ensure the execution of the sentence, Astafieva's property was seized.

During the investigation of the criminal case, the investigators revealed shortcomings in the activities of the executive authorities of Volgograd, which contributed to the commission of the incriminated crimes by Astafieva, in connection with which a presentation was made to the head of the city. In addition, the incident was possible due to deficiencies in the work of the traffic police, which was the basis for investigators to make a presentation to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Volgograd region.

The investigation has collected sufficient evidence, confirming the commission of these crimes by the accused, in connection with which the criminal case was sent to court for consideration on the merits.