News

Today the Main Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee has filed a request to a court to arrest senior track supervisor of Moscow Underground Railway Valery Bashkarov and his assistant Yuri Gordov suspected of a crime under part 3 of article 263.1 of the RF Penal Code (violations of transportation safety). The court ruled to remand both suspects in custody.

It has been found that Bashkatov and Gordov were involved in works on a track switch mechanism for a new section between Park Pobedy and Slavyansky Boulevard stations. The investigators believe that the work was done improper as the switch was fixed by a piece of ordinary 3-mm wire which snapped. This entailed derailment of a metro train killing 22 people and injuring over 150 more. All the killed have been identified.

The investigators have confiscated and studied technical documentation, including the documents regarding the switch mechanism. The material evidence are being examined. Along with the said version the investigators are going to check other versions.

At the moment a number of complex technical, chemical, forensic medical and other tests are underway, which will help to find out the cause of the accident and together with other evidence to determine the entire circle of persons subject to be accused of the crime.

Head of Media Relations                                                                                                     V.I. Markin