MOSCOW, April 2. /TASS/. Russia’s National Guard has held administratively liable and fined the Fucho private security firm, which guarded the Zimnyaya Vishnya shopping mall in the Siberian city of Kemerovo until February 2018. National Guard adviser Alexander Khinshtein informed TASS that the firm had been founded by the same people as the Tsentr Zashchity private security firm, which used to guard the shopping mall. He added that the Russian National Guard had already collected the necessary documents to shut down the private firm.

"As for the private security firm founded by the same individuals [as in case with Tsentr Zashchity], which guarded the facility until February, the documents have already been prepared to revoke its license," he said.

He added that this private security firm had been held liable, and a fine had been imposed on it.

"The court is likely to agree with us, because violations have already been revealed. The private security firm has been held administratively liable for violating the rules for recording firearms storage, with a fine of 400,000 rubles ($6,900) imposed on it," Khinshtein said.

A catastrophic blaze that broke out on the top floor of the Zimnyaya Vishnya four-story shopping mall in Kemerovo on March 25 claimed the lives of 64 people, including 41 children, while 79 others were injured.

Russia’s National Guard began to inspect private security firms in all shopping centers across the country. The key issue was to check whether security firms have the right to guard the facilities with large numbers of visitors.