MOSCOW, June 11 (RAPSI) – Negligence charges have been brought against mayor of Norilsk in the Krasnoyarsk Krai Rinat Akhmetchin over the fuel spillage disaster in the region, the Investigative Committee’s press service reports.

Investigators revealed that Akhmetchin knew about the fuel spillage but failed to take adequate emergency response and liquidation measures.

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.

Three cases opened after the thermal power plant disaster were consolidated into a single case and forwarded to the Investigative Committee’s Main Investigations Directorate for the investigation. Investigators are checking the incident for the ground spoiling, environmental offence and water pollution.

On June 4, the Krasnoyarsk Krai Court placed the chief of the boiler-and-turbine floor of the heat and power plant Vyacheslav Starostin in detention until July 31.

Several days later, investigators arrested the CEO, the superintendent and his deputy of the thermal plant on suspicion of violating the ecological regulations governing the operations of industrial facilities by persons responsible for the observance thereof if it causes a disaster.