Russia’s Investigative Committee arrests founder of Kemerovo homeless shelter; fire in shelter previously killed 22 people

The Kemerovo region of Russia’s Investigative Committee has arrested and brought charges towards a 31-year-old founder of the homeless shelter, the fire in which killed at least 22 people yesterday, the press service of the Investigative Committee reports.

The shelter for the homeless was founded by a pastor of an Evangelical church Andrey Smirnov, Izvestia newspaper claims. A criminal case on providing services that do not meet the standards of safety to lives or health of consumers which led to death of two or more people through negligence has been initiated against him.

“The house was heated through a coal boiler. Before the incident, the [people staying in the house] told the accused that the boiler was malfunctioning, however, he didn’t take any actions aimed at repairing the equipment,” the statement by the Investigative Committee reads.

The investigation has also confirmed that the shelter was run illegally — the services were being provided without any contract in place, while fire safety requirements were being violated in the house, the Investigative Committee claims.

In the late evening of 23 December, a fire erupted in a homeless shelter in the city of Kemerovo, killing at least 22 people and injuring six.