Kemerovo: ‘Children die every day. Many have AIDS.’ How Russian officials responded (truncated)

Meduza ^ | Meduza | 27 march 2018

[BeadCounter]

‘Children die every day. Many have AIDS.’ How Russian officials responded to the deadly fire at a shopping mall in Kemerovo

Kemerovo officials: “Why the calls for immediate resignations?”

On March 27, locals and many relatives of those killed in Sunday’s tragic fire rallied in Kemerovo's central square. When one of the demonstrators, a man named Igor Vostrikov, accused the authorities of treating their constituents like animals, Lieutenant Governor Sergey Tsivilev answered, “Young man, what do you mean? Do you want to exploit this grief for PR purposes?” Vostrikov then explained that his entire family died in the fire: his wife, his sister, and his three children.

A woman from the Kemerovo administrative office tried to shout down the protesters’ calls for government accountability, telling the crowd: “Why the panic? Why the calls for immediate resignations? Children die every day. Many have AIDS.”

[WayneS]

The comments from local government were thoughtless and very poorly phrased, and I have no love for Putin or his regime, but it does look like the opposition is trying to bathe in the blood of the victims in order to score political points.

Also: ...Tuleyev complained about opposition “troublemakers” who supposedly came to town to use the tragedy “for PR purposes.” “Exploiting people's grief, the whole opposition force instantly arrived. They are going to apartment buildings, nearby enterprises, and residential areas. There were around 200 of them today. These people aren’t relatives of the dead. It’s mainly just people who are always causing trouble.

That sounds eerily familiar.

[brianr10]

Russian fatalism.

[miss marmelstein]

3rd world country. Always has been, always will be.

[rrrod]

Typical Russian logic.

[Navy Patriot]

Putin arrived in Kemerovo on March 27. Unaccompanied, he visited the city’s makeshift memorial near the burned-down shopping mall and paid his respects, before meeting with regional officials. “When you hear about the number of dead and the dead children, the first thing you feel like doing is howling, not weeping. But you when listen to what’s been said here, you feel something very different, to be honest,” Putin told the officials. “We talk about demography and we yet lose so many people. Why? Because of criminal negligence and mismanagement.”

Later, the president visited a local hospital, speaking reservedly with some of the fire’s survivors. Afterwards, Putin had an “unscheduled meeting” with a civic group of victims’ relatives who are trying to calculate the fire’s death toll. He urged them to trust the reports by officials and dismiss higher figures now circulating on social media. The president then repeated his point about demography, saying, “We call on people to have children, yet we have lost so many children as a result of such things.”

Asked if he plans to fire any state officials in Kemerovo, Putin said, “First, you don't do this in front of the cameras, just to look good against the backdrop of a tragedy. And, second, we have to determine precisely who was at fault. Once we have done this — and we certainly will do it — the appropriate decisions will be made. Status is bside the point, when people have died. When children have died.”

[Navy Patriot]

Oh sorry, wrong image, I accidentally posted the image from this story: Oakland fire marshal criticized over deadly Ghost Ship blaze resigns

[dfwgator]

That’s the problem with Russia, is that opposition to Putin, is at best, incompetent.

[caww]

I’ve been following this since it happened. Russia has already arrested several responsible from the owner of the building who was not given permits to build the mall....as well as elected officials who allowed it to be re- furbushed...to the security heads for not repairing ‘known’ broken system and blocked the cinema exits.......to the security company Ceo for no followup.....Others as well have been questioned and held responsible. any of the security staff ran away rather than hit the hand operated alarms. The only warning was the smoke.

[caww]

Nadezhda Suddenok, manager of the Kemerovo retail centre, has been charged with undermining security along with some of her staff who have been accused of negligence in relation to the blaze. Alexander Nikitin, who was in charge of fire safety also appeared and charged....

[caww]

Alexander Nikitin, who was in charge of fire safety and the alarm system of the shopping mall attends a hearing on his detention in the case of the shopping mall fire.

[caww]

After Putin met with the people he held early meeting with Investigative Committee Chief Alexander Bastrykin, right, and Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova I listened to this video of their early reports which wasn't hard to deter safety issues were not only not in place but obvious neglect.....substantiated by plenty of witnesses. As well the staff running away rather than unlocking the cinema doors or sounding the fire alarm.....

[caww]

As reports continue to come in Putin was more than angry as he listened

[caww]

There were 'five' buses of children locked in the cinema as the fire ran it's course.....most of the children died there...

[Navy Patriot]

Gee whiz, it sure seems that Putin is going after the responsible parties in this Cinema/Mall fire much faster than the Marxist City of Oakland did in the Ghost Ship Warehouse/Nightclub fire.

That Putin, always flying off the handle.

[caww]

The Gov. has resigned after a public outcry that he do so....

[caww]

Bloomberg actually reported Putin din’t even go to the site.......I can attest clearly he went very soon after the fire was under control. I've been following it from the start. There's a whole lot of false news sites reporting....which is disgusting considering the loss of life and the huge failures of the local politicians as well as the failed security apparatus, and as well as the security staff and employees of the all....horrible happening.

[caww]

Let me add that all I've observed from the get go of this fire and Putins reaction is that Putin did exactly what a leader would do and should......and frankly was on top of the situation throughout...and remains so.

One thing people clearly should understand is that Putin does love his country and it's peoples despite all the blame games that are played. I've spent a lot of time on the Russian people, their history and their leaders. There's true and sustaining reasons why the people there genuinely love Putin for bringing their country back from the brink, and building their country as he has done.... most of all he does understand it's people and where they are at.....our leaders have not.

It will be interesting how he gets on with Trump.......like Bush I think Trump and Putin will get along just fine.... but it will be contentious as it was with Bush when it comes to geopolitics etc. You can respect and like an individual but not be in agreement.....so too with Presidents.

[Boogieman]

Well, that’s what is left when any competent competition gets mysteriously assassinated.

[NorseViking]

“” “” Well, that’s what is left when any competent competition gets mysteriously assassinated.”” “”

Can you name one?