The preliminary investigation was earlier extended until 10 May 2012.

(Kazan, January 24, Tatar-inform, Emma Sitdikova). The criminal investigation over the Bulgaria ship accident is in its final stage, Investigations Committee Tatarstan branch’s investigations department chief Pavel Nikolayev told a staff meeting.

“The Bulgaria ship wreck became a real endurance test. While working on this case, the law enforcers had to be fast, strong, proficient and well-coordinated in their actions,” he noted.

Tatar-inform earlier reported the Bulgaria wreck preliminary investigation had been extended until 10 May 2012.

The case principals are the sunken Bulgaria’s sub-lessee, Agrorechtur general director Svetlana Inyakina, Kama branch of the Russian River Register senior expert Yakov Ivashov, former chief state inspector at the State Sea and River Oversight authority Vladislav Semenov and transport oversight authority official Irek Timergaziev.

The ship sank on 10 July last year in the Kamskoe Ustie region of Tatarstan. At the moment of the accident it carried 201 people, 122 of whom died, including 28 children, and 79 were rescued. They were taken out of the water by the crew and passengers of the Arabella ship sailing by.

The Bulgaria was lifted off the riverbed on 26 July 2011.

The double-deck diesel-powered Bulgaria had been built in Czechoslovakia in 1955.
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