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Investigative operations finished against a number of accused in Moscow metro crash case

The Main Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee has finished investigating a criminal case against chief operating officer of the subcontractor "Spetstekhrekonstruktsiya" Anatoly Kruglov, senior track supervisor of Moscow Underground Railway Valery Bashkatov, section deputy chief of the metro’s repair department Alexei Trofimov and senior track supervisor assistant Yuri Gordov, all serving in Moscow metro. They are charged with offenses under part 3 of article 263 of the RF Penal Code (violations of transportation safety causing the death of two or more persons).

According to investigators, a metro train crashed on 15 July 2014, at around 8:34 AM, on a section between Park Pobedy and Slavyansky Boulevard due to a failure to place haulages between the blades of a switch mechanism located on a ramp to another track under construction. 24 people were killed in the crash and 188 were injured.

Bashkatov and Trofimov were employed to build the said ramp following the orders from Kruglov. Gordov supervised the operations. The version of investigators about guilt of Kruglov, Bashkatov, Trofimov and Gordov is confirmed by the evidence collected. They include conclusions of railway technical, traceological and metallographic, computer inquiries and information expert examination of the train recorders and processing units, statements of the accused, victims, witnesses, specialists and experts, crime scene examination reports and other evidence.

The accused and their lawyers started reading the files. At the same time investigation is ongoing against other officials and senior officials of Moscow metro.

Head of Media Relations                                                                                                    V.I. Markin