Support The Moscow Times!

Trial Opens for Nightclub Fire That Killed 156

A video screengrab showing people rushing out of the Khromaya Loshad nightclub in Perm in 2009 to escape the fire.

The first hearing was held Wednesday in the trial of a co-owner of a Perm nightclub where a 2009 fire killed 156 people and injured about 100 others.

Konstantin Mrykhin, co-owner of the Khromaya Loshad, or "Lame Horse," had been hiding in Spain before being arrested and extradited to Russia. He now faces charges of offering services without taking proper safety precautions, and could face up to ten years in prison.

The hearing was a closed session and  focused on deciding procedural questions for how the trial is to be carried out, Interfax reported.

The main owner of the nightclub, Anatoly Zak, also had a hearing in the same courthouse Wednesday, but was taken to the hospital after he fell ill in the courtroom. The hearing was rescheduled for Thursday.

The fire occurred on Dec. 5 after a pyrotechnic show ignited the ceiling, which was covered in highly flammable materials in violation of safety codes. Patrons were only able to escape the club through a single exit accessible through a narrow stairway.

 Footage of the incident recorded by a club-goer showed the fire begin as sparks flashed behind a decorative  wooden panel on the ceiling. People began to push their way toward the exit as the fire spread rapidly across the room. People who made it onto the street could be seen stripping off their burning clothing.

Eight people face various charges for their involvement in the fire.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more