BRASILIA, July 17 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called the deadly train derailment in the Moscow subway a terrible tragedy and said justice will be done.
The Russian president also expressed his condolences to the bereaved and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
“Someone must be held responsible and responsibility must be personal if it is proven that this or that person caused this catastrophe – and it was a terrible catastrophe, and I would like again to extend my condolences to those affected. We will do everything to help them,” Putin said at a Thursday press conference.
“Investigative authorities are now to find the culprits – I discussed this yesterday with [Investigative Committee’s chief Alexander] Bastrykin – and bring those responsible to justice,” the president said.
He warned against throwing wild accusations left and right to appease the public. “There can be no sweeping accusations, no public stunts, it must be all limited to professionalism,” Putin said, adding that responsibility was always personal.
A Moscow subway train derailed during the morning rush hour on Tuesday. Some 158 people were injured, with 146 of them taken to local hospitals. Two people have been detained on suspicion of criminal negligence, which caused one of the deadliest incidents in Moscow’s public transit system.
A power surged reportedly caused the packed commuter train to brake abruptly between stations. Rescue crews struggled to reach those trapped in one of the deepest parts of the underground transport system and bring them onto the surface.
