MOSCOW, September 14 (RAPSI) – The Norilsk City Court in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Krai will try former Mayor of Norilsk Rinat Akhmetchin charged with negligence over the fuel spillage disaster in the region has been completed, the press service of the Prosecutor General’s Office told RAPSI on Monday. 

Last week, the probe into Akhmetchin was completed and the case was forwarded to prosecutors for indictment approval. 

Investigators revealed that Akhmetchin knew about the fuel spillage but failed to take adequate emergency response and liquidation measures. They believe the official failure to act led to the aggravation of damage caused to the region’s soil and water bodies.

According to case papers, on May 29, over 20 tons of petrochemicals spread over the thermal power station and flew into the subsoil and waters near the Nadezhinsky iron and steel plant that resulted in the environment pollution and harm.

Investigation into several other cases over the spillage against seven defendants is ongoing.