Court Sentences Executives to Prison in Tragic Amur Gold Mine Disaster

A court in the Russian Far East sentenced two former employees of a gold mine to five and a half years in prison each on Friday, following a fatal mining incident that occurred last year.

In March 2024, a catastrophic surge of water and mud led to the collapse of the underground shaft at the Pioneer Mine in the Amur region, entombing thirteen miners. Unfortunately, rescuers were unable to reach them, and the search for their remains was ultimately called off.

Earlier this year, a memorial dedicated to the miners was erected near the site.

The Zeisky District Court in the Amur region convicted Alexei Biryukov, the former managing director of Pioneer Mine, and Denis Chernikov, the chief engineer, of involuntary manslaughter due to safety negligence. Both individuals admitted guilt to the charges against them.

Investigations revealed that the two men neglected to pump out water from a pit that had been progressively accumulating rainwater, despite being aware of the issue. Additionally, Biryukov and Chernikov were found to have permitted the mine to operate without the requisite permits since 2019.

Authorities indicated that their failure to act significantly contributed to the tragedy.

The Pioneer Mine is owned by Atlas Mining, which was sanctioned by the EU in May for its involvement in supporting Russia’s wartime economy.