Tragedy in Odesa: Children's camp director detained for two months

A district court in Odesa has decided to detain for two months without the right of bail Petros Sarkisian, the director of the Viktoriya municipal out-of-school educational institution, where three children were killed in a fire on September 16, the court's press service has reported. 

"The Kyivsky District Court of Odesa has taken into custody the director of the Viktoriya municipal out-of-school institution, who is suspected of committing a criminal offense stipulated by Part 2, Article 270 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, namely the violation of fire safety requirements established by the legislation, which caused a fire leading to deaths of people and large-scale property damage," reads the report.

As reported by Ukrinform, a fire broke out in a building of the Viktoriya children's camp in Odesa in the early hours of September 16. Over 40 children were inside the building at the time of the fire. Three children were killed in the accident. 

According to preliminary findings, the cause of the fire was the violation of fire safety rules. Criminal proceedings were instituted under Part 2, Article 270 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (the violation of fire safety requirements established by the legislation). The director of the children's camp was detained.

In addition, police officers detained and, together with the prosecutor's office, notified of a suspicion a camp employee who, according to her functional duties, was responsible for fire safety.

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