Flowers and candles in memory of victims of fire in Kemerovo, Yerevan, March 28, 2018. Photo by Tigran Petrosyan for the Caucasian Knot.

29 March 2018, 05:12

Armenians hold corrupt power responsible for fire in Kemerovo

For the second day, residents of Yerevan bring flowers and soft toys and light candles in memory of the victims of the tragedy in Kemerovo, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reported on March 28. On the territory of the diplomatic mission, the state flag is lowered as a sign of the mourning announced in Russia. The Russian Embassy opened a book of condolences.

The fire at the "Winter Cherry" shopping and entertainment complex in Kemerovo began in the afternoon on March 25, and it was not possible to extinguish it until the other day. The fire killed 64 people, including 13 children. According to eyewitnesses, the fire alarm in the building failed, and people had to get evacuated on their own.

Alida Gevorgyan, a resident of Yerevan, called the tragedy at the "Winter Cherry" shopping centre in Kemerovo a terror act. She believes this is evidenced by locked doors and lack of guards.

A corrupt system of power is the main culprit of the tragedy, programmer Arsen Nazaryan told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He believes that without a proper bribe, no fire inspector would sign an act on fire safety at the shopping centre.

The tragedy in Kemerovo also became the subject of discussions in the Armenian segment of Facebook.

User Artyom Sukiasyan believes the tragedy was provoked by "total corruption." He doubts that the real culprits will be punished.

"A guard, a lift man and a cleaner will be punished. It's a tragedy that the kids died because of negligence and lawlessness and they would never see this world," Artyom Sukiasyan wrote.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

All news
НАСТОЯЩИЙ МАТЕРИАЛ (ИНФОРМАЦИЯ) ПРОИЗВЕДЕН И РАСПРОСТРАНЕН ИНОСТРАННЫМ АГЕНТОМ ООО “МЕМО”, ЛИБО КАСАЕТСЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИНОСТРАННОГО АГЕНТА ООО “МЕМО”.

December 30, 2024 22:38

  • Uzbek MP demands apology from Kadyrov

    Odiljon Tozhiev, an Uzbek MP, has condemned Ramzan Kadyrov's statements about the officials who had survived the assassination attempt; he has called on Kadyrov to apologize and help find the suspects. One of them, Bislan Rasaev, was accused of political murders and espionage in Turkey, but could have been released within prisoners' exchange.

December 30, 2024 21:07

December 30, 2024 17:22

December 28, 2024 23:49

  • Social workers and IT specialists come to protest in Tbilisi

    On the 30th day of protests against the suspension of European integration, IT specialists, people of creative professions, and social workers took to the streets in Tbilisi. Social workers, in particular, demanded an end to dismissals for political reasons.

December 28, 2024 23:29

News archive