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4 officials in southern Russia sentenced for criminal negligence

During the flood in the town of Krymsk overnight to July 7, 2012, 153 people died

KRYMSK /Krasnodar Territory/, August 21 (Itar-Tass) - The Abinsk district court in southern Russia's Krasnodar Territory on Wednesday sentenced four officials for inaction and criminal negligence during the flood in the town of Krymsk overnight to July 7, 2012, in which 153 people died.

Head of the Krymsky district administration Vasily Krutko was sentenced to six years, Krymsk mayor Vladimir Ulanovsky got three years and six months and former acting head of the emergencies and civil defense department of the Krymsky district Viktor Zhdanov was sentenced to four years and six months. All will serve their sentences in penal colonies. Head of the Nizhnebakansky settlement Irina Ryabchenko was given a three year and six month suspended sentence.

"It follows from the evidence examined by the court that Krutko, Ulanovsky, Ryabchenko and Zhdanov had the information about the upcoming emergency but failed to take proper measures. The court rules that these persons are guilty," judge Vladimir Makarenkov said at the beginning of the hearing on Wednesday.

Makarenkov also said "Krutko's guilt of forgery in office is fully confirmed by eye-witnesses' testimony, as is the forgery committed by former mayor Ulanovsky."

In the course of the trial which began on May 15, the court has questioned more than 600 witnesses and 136 injured parties.

The criminal case comprises over 200 volumes. More than 400 expert examinations were carried out.

The investigators said Korsakov, Ulanovsky and Ryabchenko ordered their subordinates to draw official documents alleging that they had taken all the proper measures to combat the emergency. Specifically the document offers a record of a session of the district crisis commissions, a warning to the population and evacuation efforts," the investigators said. The document was backdated, they added.

Zhdanov was accused of attempted fraud in lumpsum compensation to flood victims. He put his name on the list of the persons eligible to compensation, although his house had not been in the flood zone.