In the Amur Region, a deputy head of the department and a senior inspector from the regional department of Rostechnadzor responsible for inspecting hazardous production facilities were detained on suspicion of negligence under Article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The incidents involve the Pioneer mine, and the information was released by the press service of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.
Investigators say that in 2022 and 2023, Rostechnadzor employees failed to report serious violations of industrial safety laws at hazardous production facilities after planned inspections of the mine. The authorities are accused of neglecting their duties to such an extent that they did not halt abuses, including the temporary suspension of mining activities. The probe alleges that these failures allowed maintenance work at the facility to proceed with significant safety breaches.
Beyond the negligence case, prosecutors have opened a separate criminal inquiry into violations of safety requirements during work. The mine’s general manager has been charged and taken into custody as part of the investigation.
On March 18, a rock collapse occurred at the Pioneer mine. At the time of the emergency, thirteen miners were underground, and their exact locations and statuses remained uncertain. Exploration indicated that some parts of the mine were flooded following the collapse. Rescue teams noted that water could bypass compartments where injured miners were believed to be located. Further details are reported in ongoing coverage by reliable local sources (citation: socialbites.ca).
Earlier, the Pioneer team offered condolences to the families of the miners who remained underground at the time of the incident.