05:12, 29 March 2018

Armenians hold corrupt power responsible for fire in Kemerovo

Flowers and candles in memory of victims of fire in Kemerovo, Yerevan, March 28, 2018. Photo by Tigran Petrosyan for the Caucasian Knot.

For the second day, residents of Yerevan bring flowers and soft toys and light candles in memory of the victims of the tragedy in Kemerovo, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reported on March 28. On the territory of the diplomatic mission, the state flag is lowered as a sign of the mourning announced in Russia. The Russian Embassy opened a book of condolences.

The fire at the "Winter Cherry" shopping and entertainment complex in Kemerovo began in the afternoon on March 25, and it was not possible to extinguish it until the other day. The fire killed 64 people, including 13 children. According to eyewitnesses, the fire alarm in the building failed, and people had to get evacuated on their own.

Alida Gevorgyan, a resident of Yerevan, called the tragedy at the "Winter Cherry" shopping centre in Kemerovo a terror act. She believes this is evidenced by locked doors and lack of guards.

A corrupt system of power is the main culprit of the tragedy, programmer Arsen Nazaryan told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He believes that without a proper bribe, no fire inspector would sign an act on fire safety at the shopping centre.

The tragedy in Kemerovo also became the subject of discussions in the Armenian segment of Facebook.

User Artyom Sukiasyan believes the tragedy was provoked by "total corruption." He doubts that the real culprits will be punished.

"A guard, a lift man and a cleaner will be punished. It's a tragedy that the kids died because of negligence and lawlessness and they would never see this world," Artyom Sukiasyan wrote.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.