MOSCOW, October 28 (RIA Novosti) - Five administrative workers of the Peoples' Friendship University in Moscow and a fire department official charged with ignoring fire-prevention regulations, which led to a tragedy in a student dormitory two years ago, pled not guilty in court hearings Friday.
Prosecutors said the students and staff of the dormitory had not been instructed what to do in case of a fire, and there had been no emergency equipment in the facility.
"I think the investigators jumped to conclusions. I was not even questioned," one of the accused said.
The fire, which swept through dormitory block six of the university in the early hours of November 24, 2003, killed at least 36 people, mostly Asian and African students. Up to 200 other students were injured.
