Deputy Director General of "Magellan" OOO Alexander Kudritsky has been detained in the investigation into the sinking of the fishing trawler "Dalny Vostok" in the Okhotsk Sea initiated on the grounds of an offense under part 3 of article 263 of the RF Penal Code (violation of water traffic and vessel operation safety rules resulting in the death of two or more persons). Investigators are going to request the court to remand him in custody. Director General of "Magellan" OOO Yegor Gashchenko has been named as another defendant in the case. Investigators assume he is in the Republic of Korea now and put him on the wanted list. Investigators believe there will be more people responsible for the shipwreck and the deaths. Investigators will check all persons, including officials, who were monitoring compliance with fishing vessel safety rules and presence of life-saving equipment on board.
As previously reported, there were 132 people on board. 56 people died in the wreck, 13 are missing, 63 crew members were rescued. According to preliminary data, the sunken trawler captain and his senior assistant are among the dead. Bodies of the dead and survivors are being carried by the ships "Andromeda" and "Spravedlivy" to the port of Korsakov, Sakhalin Region.
Ship's papers and other documents were seized from the trawler home port of Nevelsk and the shipowner's office, numerous witnesses and officials were interviewed. The court issued a freezing order over the property and accounts of the shipowner and defendants at the request of investigators in order to secure the lawsuit.
According to the main version, the shipwreck was caused by the loss of stability during the placing of the catch on board in violation of the rules and non-compliance with trawler operation rules by the leadership of the shipowner company. In particular, it is known that no measures were taken to replenish fuel stocks on board and stop catching, there were not enough life-saving equipment, and the number of people on board was over the limit. Given these facts it is obvious that putting out to sea was a mortal danger.
But what does the safety of fishermen means to so-called entrepreneurs, the main and only purpose of whom has always been profit-making? And even now, when it is time to repent and do everything possible for the relatives of those killed and injured, they are blackmailing and bargaining with investigators, stating publicly that the legitimate actions of investigators aimed at identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators may allegedly cause the non-payment of compensation. Be sure, you will be impleaded and will pay compensation no matter where you are.
Head of Media Relations
V. Markin
PDF version 
DOC version
