Lame Horse fire
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The Lame Horse fire occurred on 5 December 2009, around 1 a.m. local time in the
nightclub A nightclub (music club, discothèque, disco club, or simply club) is an entertainment venue during nighttime comprising a dance floor, lightshow, and a stage for live music or a disc jockey (DJ) who plays recorded music. Nightclubs gener ...
''Khromaya Loshad'' (russian: «Хромая лошадь», "Lame Horse") at 9 Kuybyshev Street,
Perm Perm or PERM may refer to: Places *Perm, Russia, a city in Russia ** Permsky District, the district **Perm Krai, a federal subject of Russia since 2005 **Perm Oblast, a former federal subject of Russia 1938–2005 **Perm Governorate, an administra ...
,
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...
. The fire started when sparks from pyrotechnics ignited the low ceiling and its
willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist so ...
twig covering. The fire quickly spread to the walls and damaged the building's electrical wiring, causing the lights to fail. 156 people died as a result of the fire. According to initial reports, up to 160 more were injured in the fire; however, many of the wounded lost their lives in the following days in hospitals. The nightclub was in the middle of a celebration of its eighth anniversary at the time. A total of 282 people had reportedly been invited to the club's anniversary party.


Fire

Approximately 300 people were in the club for the club's anniversary celebration when the fire began. Ignition occurred when a performance artist threw cold-flame pyrotechnics into the air. Sparks from the fireworks hit the plastic covering of the ceiling, igniting it. The event's master of ceremonies then told the guests to evacuate. As the crowd began to calmly exit the building, the wooden decorations on the interior walls of the club ignited, and the building filled with smoke. When the evacuation started, some people left via rear exits. The vast intake of oxygen turned the club's hall into a large fire tube and boosted the spread of fire.Очевидец: Пострадавшие из «Хромой лошади» пролежали на земле не меньше часа
(in Russian). ''Vzglyad''. December 9, 2009.
As fumes and smoke overtook the air, panic erupted and patrons stampeded toward the exit. According to witnesses, one leaf of the club's double doors was sealed shut, and the public was unaware of the backdoor exit behind the stage not shown by emergency lighting. A club visitor's report about emergency service activity: Another report of a volunteer involved in evacuation: 156 people were known to have died as a result of the fire - 94 at the scene and the rest in hospitals. During three days following the fire,
EMERCOM The Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergency Situations and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (russian: Министерство Российской Федерации по делам гражданской ...
used specially equipped "mobile hospital"
Il-76 The Ilyushin Il-76 (russian: Илью́шин Ил-76; NATO reporting name: Candid) is a multi-purpose, fixed-wing, four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union's Ilyushin design bureau. It was first planned as a comme ...
TD aircraft to transport 65 injured to Moscow and 28 to
St. Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
. Most of the injured who were transported to Moscow and Saint Petersburg had poor prognoses for recovery.Большинство – в тяжелом состоянии
(in Russian). Interfax. Retrieved on 2009-12-07.
By December 2009, 35 fire victims in hospitals had very poor prognoses. Most victims in more serious conditions needed around 2–3 months of treatment and a year of rehabilitation afterwards, including multiple reconstructive surgeries.Новые жертвы
(in Russian). Interfax. December 9, 2009. Retrieved on 2009-12-10.
One
Ukrainian Ukrainian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Ukraine * Something relating to Ukrainians, an East Slavic people from Eastern Europe * Something relating to demographics of Ukraine in terms of demography and population of Ukraine * So ...
citizen died and another was injured as a result of the incident.One Ukrainian injured, one dead in Russia's night club in Perm
. ''
Kyiv Post The ''Kyiv Post'' is the oldest English-language newspaper in Ukraine, founded in October 1995 by Jed Sunden. History American Jed Sunden founded the ''Kyiv Post'' weekly newspaper on Oct. 18, 1995 and later created KP Media for his holdings. ...
''. December 8, 2009.
The injured Ukrainian later died in a Perm clinic.


Response

Russian Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who holds the office of president of Russia. Putin has served continuously as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime min ...
dispatched two planes equipped to transport burn trauma victims. President Dmitry Medvedev sent many high-level government officials to Perm to aid the victims, manage the incident, and start the criminal investigation, commenting that those who started the blaze "have neither brains, nor conscience". Medvedev declared December 7, 2009 a national day of mourning.Дмитрий Медведев объявил 7 декабря в России днем траура в связи с пожаром в Перми
(in Russian). Russian News Service. December 5, 2009.
In Perm, a hotline was established for residents seeking information about the injured or deceased.


Aftermath

Rumors have circulated that the incident was a terrorist plot, but the Russian Prosecutor's Investigative Committee spokesman, Vladimir Markin, declared that the fire was caused by unsanctioned use of fireworks indoors. The fire was the deadliest in Russia since the
fall of the Soviet Union The dissolution of the Soviet Union, also negatively connoted as rus, Разва́л Сове́тского Сою́за, r=Razvál Sovétskogo Soyúza, ''Ruining of the Soviet Union''. was the process of internal disintegration within the Sov ...
in 1991. The previous high death toll for a fire was in March 2007, at a
Krasnodar Krasnodar (; rus, Краснода́р, p=krəsnɐˈdar; ady, Краснодар), formerly Yekaterinodar (until 1920), is the largest city and the administrative centre of Krasnodar Krai, Russia. The city stands on the Kuban River in southe ...
assisted living home, which claimed 63 lives. There have been several other deadly fires in public places around Russia in recent years, attributed to the lax enforcement of fire safety regulations. The disaster bears some similarities to the 2003 Station fire in the US state of
Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area and the seventh-least populous, with slightly fewer than 1.1 million residents as of 2020, but it ...
, caused by the improper usage of indoor pyrotechnics which ignited the flammable sound-proofing foam in the building, killing 100 people. Some survivors and relatives of the victims of that fire expressed their sadness that a similar tragedy had occurred again. An emergency services spokesman stated most victims died from
smoke inhalation Smoke inhalation is the breathing in of harmful fumes (produced as by-products of combusting substances) through the respiratory tract. This can cause smoke inhalation injury (subtype of acute inhalation injury) which is damage to the respirator ...
and/or
carbon monoxide poisoning Carbon monoxide poisoning typically occurs from breathing in carbon monoxide (CO) at excessive levels. Symptoms are often described as " flu-like" and commonly include headache, dizziness, weakness, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. Large ...
. Emergency Situations Minister
Sergei Shoigu Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu, ; tyv, Сергей Күжүгет оглу Шойгу, translit=Sergey Kyzhyget oglu Shoygu, . (russian: Сергей Кужугетович Шойгу; born 21 May 1955) is a Russian politician who has served as ...
issued a ban on fireworks at many upcoming
New Years New Year is the time or day currently at which a new calendar year begins and the calendar's year count increments by one. Many cultures celebrate the event in some manner. In the Gregorian calendar, the most widely used calendar system to ...
and
Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year ...
festivities, and President Medvedev ordered a complete review of fire safety regulations. Additionally, by mid December, Moscow Fire Safety Authority motioned suspending activity of 54 nightclubs and cafes in Moscow alone after surprise checks of 450 facilities revealed safety violations on part of these businesses. Typical violations were lack of a fire alarm, bars installed on windows, construction materials blocking walkways. Some contested court decision and were going to file complaints to prosecutor's office. Others, including popular Moscow clubs B2 and IKRA, fixed their violations quickly and resumed operations. St. Petersburg Fire Safety Authority as a result of surprise checks motioned suspension of activity for 25 venues. On 9 December 2009, the head of city administration Arkady Kats announced his decision to resign citing the disaster as a reason. On the same day,
Perm Krai Perm Krai (russian: Пе́рмский край, r=Permsky kray, p=ˈpʲɛrmskʲɪj ˈkraj, ''Permsky krai'', , ''Perem lador'') is a federal subject of Russia (a krai) that came into existence on December 1, 2005 as a result of the 2004 re ...
Governor
Oleg Chirkunov Oleg Anatolyevich Chirkunov (russian: Олег Анатольевич Чиркунов, ; born 15 November 1958) is a Russians, Russian politician who served as the governor of Perm Krai from 12 March 2004 to 28 April 2012. Early life He ...
accepted resignation of the local government. He announced that the new government will be formed only after the fire investigation is finished.Правительство отставленно
(in Russian). Interfax. December 9, 2009. Retrieved on 2009-12-09.
On December 11, Perm City Council did not accept Arkady Kats' resignation but instead suspended him from duty for a month. On December 16, opposition party
A Just Russia A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes' ...
also called for Emergency Situation Minister Shoigu to resign. During her Moscow concert on 9 December 2009, American singer
Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed " The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston i ...
dedicated the song " I Look To You" to the victims of the nightclub fire saying, "I want to sing this song in memory of those who died in the Russian city of Perm".


Investigation

On 5 December 2009, four persons were detained in relation to the Lame Horse fire. A court later authorized a two-month preliminary detention for the suspects on 6 December .Заключение под стражу
(in Russian). Interfax. December 6, 2009. Retrieved on 2009-12-06.
One of the accused, Anatoly Zak, allegedly a co-owner of Lame Horse, fled Perm but was later captured by Russian police.Милиция пресекла бегство владельца сгоревшего пермского клуба
(in Russian). Lenta.Ru. December 5, 2009. Retrieved on 2009-12-06.
Zak has denied allegations of club ownership. Zak had an
Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
i passport when he was captured, fueling speculations that he was trying to get to
Yekaterinburg Yekaterinburg ( ; rus, Екатеринбург, p=jɪkətʲɪrʲɪnˈburk), alternatively romanized as Ekaterinburg and formerly known as Sverdlovsk ( rus, Свердло́вск, , svʲɪrˈdlofsk, 1924–1991), is a city and the administra ...
and leave Russia via
Koltsovo International Airport Koltsovo International Airport (russian: Аэропорт Кольцово) is the international airport serving Yekaterinburg, Russia, located 16 km (10 mi) southeast of the city. Being the largest airport in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Kolt ...
.Zagorets, Yaroslav (December 7, 2009).
Загнанных лошадей пристреливают
(in Russian). Lenta.Ru. Retrieved on 2009-12-07.
On 7 December, four of the detained suspects were formally charged. Anatoly Zak, executive director Svetlana Yefremova, and caretaker art director Oleg Fetkulov were charged with violations of fire safety rules leading to the deaths of 2 or more people (Article 219, part 3 of the
Criminal Code of Russia The Russian Criminal Code (russian: Уголовный кодекс Российской Федерации, frequently abbreviated УК РФ) is the prime source of the Law of the Russian Federation concerning criminal offences. The 1996 Crim ...
, carrying a maximum sentence of 7 years). The latter suspect also lost his wife Yevgeniya Fetkulova on December 13 who was present at the club and suffered from multiple burns and smoke inhalation she received during fire. Investigators allowed Oleg Fetkulov to see his deceased wife for the last time at the local
morgue A morgue or mortuary (in a hospital or elsewhere) is a place used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification (ID), removal for autopsy, respectful burial, cremation or other methods of disposal. In modern times, corpses have cu ...
before her funeral. Sergei Derbenyov, director of the pyrotechnics company Pirotsvet (Russian: ООО Пиротехническая компания 'Пироцвет') that supplied the incendiaries, was charged with
negligent manslaughter Negligent homicide is a criminal charge brought against a person who, through criminal negligence, allows another person to die. Examples include the crash of Aeroperu Flight 603 near Lima, Peru. The accident was caused by a piece of duct tape ...
of 2 or more people (Article 109, part 3 of the Criminal Code of Russia, carrying a maximum sentence of 5 years).Пожар в Перми: обвинения предъявлены
(in Russian). Interfax. December 7, 2009. Retrieved on 2009-12-14.
The fifth suspect, Alexandr Titlyanov, a leaseholder of the premises who also owned 85% of the issued shares of the club, was heavily injured in the fire. Later he was transported to a Moscow clinic with burns over 80% of his body and died on December 9, 2009 in a Moscow clinic before any charges were brought against him. Investigators say the fireworks that started the blaze were outdoor pyrotechnics, prohibited for use indoors. On 8 December 2009, during his visit to Perm, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin acknowledged that local and federal officials were partly responsible for the fire. Later on the same day, EMERCOM dismissed seven officials from Perm Fire Safety Supervision Authority, including its chief and all his deputies.Шойгу отстранил от работы руководителей пожарной охраны Перми
(in Russian). Lenta.Ru. December 8, 2009. Retrieved on 2009-12-08.
Investigators also found that a fire safety compliance report from 2003 was signed by an inspector who had been dismissed in 2002. The next annual fire safety inspection of the Lame Horse was due on December 7.Пожарную безопасность "Хромой лошади" заверил уволенный инспектор МЧС
(in Russian). Lenta.Ru. December 8, 2009. Retrieved on 2009-12-08.
According to Vladimir Markin, spokesperson for Investigation Committee of the
Prosecutor General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...
's Office, the court approved the motion to confiscate all property of Anatoly Zak. The main reason for the motion was the charges filed by the victims of the inferno. Anatoly Zak reportedly owned or had an interest in 28 commercial entities. Additionally, 18 pieces of property were believed to belong to him, including apartments, house and real estate which he leased for profit. On 11 December 2009, Vladimir Mukhutdinov, who was a chief fire safety inspector of the local Fire Safety Authority, was formally charged with negligence on duty leading to a death of 2 or more people (Article 293, part 3, carrying a maximum sentence of 7 years). The court ordered Mukhutdinov's arrest later that day. Mukhudtinov felt weak in the courtroom and had to be hospitalized. Initial findings by the investigation team suggest that the club premises certificate was obtained in 2007 in a fraudulent way. Officials had turned a blind eye, and there were no official checks of the construction work carried out around 2004-2006. Checks performed after the fire revealed some critically important differences from the original planning permission. By initial design, premises were to have large windows which would have allowed people to escape. Moreover, the club license officially allowed 50 visitors only. However, a new extension wall did not have any windows at all and large windows were bricked in leaving only two exits for several hundreds of people inside. It was also revealed that the name of the club had not been registered by any of the tax authorities of Perm Krai, and taxes were not being paid.


Trials

The formal investigation was completed on 4 June 2010 with indictments issued against Zak, Yefremova, Fatkulov, Sergei Derbenyov, his son Igor Derbenyov (who allegedly lit the fireworks) and Mukhutdinov. Also indicted were fire inspectors Dmitri Roslyakov and Natalya Prokopyeva (negligence of duty, article 293, part 3). The indictment for Zak, Yefremova and Fatkulov was reclassified from Article 219, part 3 to Article 238, part 3 ("production, storage, transportation or sale of goods, or providing a service without following safety regulations which led to death of 2 or more people", maximum sentence of 10 years). Zak was also indicted for tax evasion (article 198, part 2, maximum sentence of 3 years); that indictment could be removed if he paid back the taxes owed and penalties. Mukhutdinov was indicted for two counts of "misuse of authority" (article 285, maximum sentence of 10 years). The second count was added after the investigators found a 5,000-rubles gift certificate from one of the local alcohol shops in his office. He allegedly issued a permit to the store in question even though it did not fit the fire safety regulations. Another accused, Konstantin Mrykhin, was not in custody at the time, and international arrest warrant was issued for him (he allegedly was another co-owner of the club, and was indicted on the same counts as Zak, Yefremova and Fatkulov). Mrykhin was arrested on 31 August 2010 in
Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...
,
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...
and was expected to be
extradited Extradition is an action wherein one jurisdiction delivers a person accused or convicted of committing a crime in another jurisdiction, over to the other's law enforcement. It is a cooperative law enforcement procedure between the two jurisdi ...
to Russia in late September or early October 2010. The trial for the other indicted began on 20 September 2010. 304 people who were injured and relatives of the people who died filed civil suits against the accused for a total of about 2.5 billion rubles (approximately ). Zak claimed innocence, as he was only a passive investor in the club, and club affairs were managed by Titlyanov. Igor Derbenyov petitioned the court to excuse him from appearing in the courtroom due to health problems caused by the injuries he suffered in the fire, but that petition was denied after a medical examination. The trial had to be postponed several times, as the accused had to change the lawyers representing them, and one of the lawyers was hospitalized to give birth. Court was adjourned until 25 January 2011 as Zak was hospitalized and operated on (part of his
large intestine The large intestine, also known as the large bowel, is the last part of the gastrointestinal tract and of the digestive system in tetrapods. Water is absorbed here and the remaining waste material is stored in the rectum as feces before bein ...
had to be removed), and even though it was unclear how long Zak's recuperation would take, prosecution said it was impossible to transfer Zak's indictment into a separate case at this stage of the trial. The judge decided to continue the trial after Zak's condition was reported to be satisfactory for him to appear in the courtroom. However, later the same day Zak had to be taken to the hospital again and the hearings were postponed again. Zak was once more reported by the doctors to be fit enough to participate in the trial on 27 January, but this time Igor Derbenyov asked to have his mental health evaluated by psychiatrists as he claimed he might have a mental disorder and be not guilty by reason of insanity. Derbenyov was judged mentally competent after a psychiatric evaluation. Derbenyov and Roslyakov were released on their own recognizance on March 1, leaving Zak, Fetkulov and Mukhutdinov in custody.


Verdicts

Konstantin Mrykhin was convicted of "providing services not compliant with safety requirements, committed by an organized group by prior agreement, which negligently led to deaths of two or more people" (Article 238, part 3 of the
Criminal Code of Russia The Russian Criminal Code (russian: Уголовный кодекс Российской Федерации, frequently abbreviated УК РФ) is the prime source of the Law of the Russian Federation concerning criminal offences. The 1996 Crim ...
) on 14 May 2012 and sentenced to 6.5 years of imprisonment (maximum sentence on that charge is 10 years, but Mrykhin pleaded guilty to the charges and therefore was not subject to a full trial; the maximum sentence in that situation is automatically reduced by 1/3). He was also sentenced to paying 200,000,000 rubles (approx. 5,000,000 euros) in compensation to the victims. Zak, Yefremova, Fetkulov, Mukhutdinov, Roslyakov, Prokopyeva, and Igor and Sergei Derbenyovs were found guilty, as announced by the court on 30 April 2013. The sentences were: Zak - 9 years 10 months of imprisonment, Yefremova - 4 years of imprisonment, Igor Derbenyov - 4 years 10 months of imprisonment, Sergei Derbenyov - 5 years of imprisonment, Fetkulov - 6 years of imprisonment, Roslyakov - 5 years of settlement colony, Prokopyeva - 4 years of settlement colony and Mukhutdinov - 70,000 rubles fine. Zak was released after serving his sentence on 4 September 2018.


See also

*
List of nightclub fires This is a list of notable nightclub fires at indoor and outdoor venues. Many involve pyrotechnic failures. See also * List of fires This article is a list of notable fires. Town and city fires Building or structure fires Transportation ...


References


External links


Scores reported killed in Russian blastcameraman captured the beginning of a blazeIn pictures: Russian nightclub fire
{{Club fires 2009 fires in Europe 2009 disasters in Russia Fire disasters involving barricaded escape routes Fires in Russia Nightclub fires started by pyrotechnics Perm, Russia December 2009 events in Europe