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Investigators of the Western Interregional Investigative Directorate for Transport of the Russian Investigative Committee detained two persons related to a criminal investigation on fire at the Moscow-Leningradskaya station

Investigators of the Western Interregional Investigative Directorate for Transport of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation detained a HSE (Health, Safety, Environment) and Fire Specialist Mr. Vladimir Konovalov, and Mr. Anton Machelyuk, the founder and C.E.O. of "Novo Flore" LLC, who rented burned-out warehouses, within the criminal investigation in accordance with Part 3, Article 219 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violation of fire safety requirements, negligently resulting in the death of two or more persons).

The Investigators interrogated them, and charged the suspects with a crime prescribed in Part 3, Article 219 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

As a reminder, on the afternoon of November 20, 2022, a fire broke out in the warehouse building on Komsomolskaya Square in Moscow as a result of non-compliance with fire safety rules by the Company's employees. After extinguishing the fire, the bodies of seven people were found at the scene of the fire.

Investigators and Forensic Specialists, continue to work at the scene. All circumstances, causes and conditions of what happened are being detected.

Currently, criminal cases prescribed on Part 3, Article 238 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (performance of work or provision of services that do not meet safety requirements, resulting in the death of two or more persons) and prescribed on Part 3, Article 219 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violation of fire safety requirements, negligently resulting in the death of two or more persons), are combined into one proceeding.

The investigation and its results are the subject to control of the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia and the Main Directorate of the Department.

The Investigating Authorities ask eyewitnesses of the incident, including eyewitnesses of the moment of the fire, to contact the First Division for the Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the Western Interregional Investigative Directorate for Transport of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation by phone 8 (495) 539-29-27.