Charges filed against suspects in Volga shipwreck tragedy

Two suspects in the sinking of a river cruise boat, the Bulgaria, were charged on Friday with providing unsafe services causing the deaths of two or more people, the Russian Investigation Committee said.

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.

“On a request from investigators, the court ruled to take the suspects into custody,” committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said.

They face up to ten years in prison if found guilty.

Experts are currently examining documents and other evidence from the sunken vessel and two rescue boats. The Bulgaria and its mechanisms will be examined when it is lifted and stationed in a dry dock.

The twin-deck riverboat capsized and sank on the Volga River on June 10, killing at least 114 passengers and crew, with another 79 rescued.

Leave a comment