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Central Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee filed requests on certain time limits for reading materials by the accused in the case over an accident occurred in August 2009 at the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydropower plant.

We remind that a number of employees of P.S. Neporozhny Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydropower Plant being in charge of safe use of hydro power equipment at the Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydropower Plant by negligence during a long period of time allowed work of hydraulic unit No. 2 in unsatisfactory vibration state. Employees of the plant did nothing and did not take any measures to eliminate the technical failure, including during planned repair works in January-March 2009. As a result on 17 August 2009, when the amplitude of vibration of turbine bearing increased to 840 micron, with the maximum allowed of 160 micron, a mount of turbine roof started distracting which resulted in its breakaway, the turbine half annex was flooded, distraction of and damage to buildings, technical facilities and technological equipment of Sayano-Shushenskaya hydropower plant and death of 75 people of staff and contractors.

After the investigating operations were completed, the accused and their defenders have started reading materials of the case, which is 1,202 volumes since 7 August 2012. Despite the fact that the Investigative Committee has created all possible conditions for free availability of the materials – in working hours, after working hours and at the weekend, - the accused Nikolay Nevolko and his defender Alexander Kochubin, the accused Alexander Klyukach and his defender Dmitry Sagadiyev, the accused Vladimir Beloborodov and his defender Yelena Belaya are deliberately dragging out the process of reading the materials. They read no more than 2 hours a day and no more than several days during a month. In addition, investigators agreed with the employer of the accused, who does not interfere with the process of reading the materials by the accused.

Due to the fact that deliberate delay in the process of reading the materials infringes the right of other accused to access the justice in reasonable time limits, prevents realization of rights of the victims for the judicial protection and compensation of the damage and leads to general delay in the time of investigation, the Central Investigations Directorate has filed motions to Sayanogorsky court, Republic of Khakassia, to set certain time limits for the above mentioned persons to read the materials of the case.