Law enforcement officers detained four people on suspicion of violating the requirements of fire safety, resulting in death A fire broke out and 15 people died in a Kharkiv home for the elderly 21 in January.
Prosecutor General Irina Venediktova reported this.
"Deadly fire in Kharkiv - 4 people detained. The prosecutor's office and the police quickly detained a group of people involved in the organization of a private home for the elderly, where there was a fire with 15 victims," Venediktova wrote on her Facebook page.
As part of the criminal proceedings on the fact of violation of the fire safety requirements established by the legislation, which caused the death of people in accordance with Article 208, the owner of the house, who rented the two-story building for a boarding house, as well as the tenant of the house and his wife, the director of the private enterprise, which actually managed the establishment, were detained. The administrator who coordinated the work of the boarding house, but was not officially employed there, was also detained.
Suspicion reports and petitions for choosing a measure of restraint are prepared for all detainees.
"At this stage, it has been established that the detained spouses are the founders of a public organization, the purpose of which is to facilitate recreational recreational and cultural activities aimed at satisfying and protecting the legitimate interests of its members, which was probably used to cover activities related to the care of the elderly. The cost of staying in the boarding house "Zolotoe Vremya" was 15 thousand on average. UAH," the Prosecutor General noted.
In addition, there are no commissioning documents for the building in which the boarding house for the elderly operated. Also, electricity and gas supply was connected to the building without obtaining special permits (by connecting to the house communications, which is properly designed).
"During the primary investigative actions, the so-called "rehabilitation center" for alcohol and drug addicts was also established in the neighboring officially registered house. The basis of their stay and the exact amount is being established," Vedeniktova added.
The Prosecutor General noted that three main versions are being tested: the fire was caused by arson (inside fire); the fire occurred as a result of careless handling of household fires and electrical appliances; the fire was caused by a short circuit of the electrical network.
Investigative actions continue, law enforcement officers interrogate other employees of the boarding house, witnesses, search and inspect the scene of the incident with the involvement of experts.
