Russia Public Chamber to hold investigation into Volga shipwreck tragedy

A first session of a working group of the Russian Public Chamber, set up to conduct a public investigation into the sinking of cruise vessel Bulgaria, will be held on Monday, a member of the chamber said.

The twin-deck riverboat Bulgaria capsized and sank on the Volga River on July 10. There were 201 people aboard the riverboat. As many as 120 people were killed and 79 people rescued. The fate of two people is yet unknown.

“The first session of the working group is planned for July 25. We will be deciding on the composition of the group and selecting experts to begin the investigation,” Anatoly Kucherena, the head of the chamber’s commission for control of law enforcement bodies and judicial system, said.

The Russian Investigation Committee said on Friday that two suspects in the sinking of the Bulgaria were charged with providing unsafe services causing the deaths of two or more people.

The main suspects in the case are Svetlana Inyakina, the general director of the company that rented the cruise boat, and river fleet inspector Yakov Ivashov, who inspected the Bulgaria’s safety before the departure and certified it fit to sail.

Experts are currently examining documents and other evidence from the sunken vessel and two rescue boats.

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