"Arrows" and switchmen

The Minister of Defense, who arrived in Khankala, Sergey Ivanov quickly calculated the "extreme" in the history of the death of the Mi-26. It turned out to be a colonel General of Aviation Vitaly Pavlov, commander of the Army Aviation of the Ground Forces. Before clarifying all circumstances, the general was temporarily suspended from office . It would also be logical to remove the "main aviators" of the border and internal troops - alas, there are also many deaths of the "mixers" Pavlov over the past two years of the war in Chechnya. But everyone understands that Pavlov was chosen for demonstrative flogging: the resonance from the tragedy, according to the number of those who died comparable to the death of Kursk , is too great.

Lesserly I want to defend the general, who has been responsible for army aviation since 1991, and in fact observed all these years during its collapse. And his complaints in the corners at a worn park of aircraft and helicopters are by no means talking about the fundamental position of the military leader. Could a resignation report in protest to the minister’s table to bang, but did not bang, he held on to the post to the last, led the aviation, which is 70 % heaven, 60 % incapable of climbing the air. But the matter, of course, is not in Pavlov. The general condition of the Russian Air Force is such that without updating and repairing by 2010, according to experts, no military aircraft and helicopter will be able to rise into the air.

The investigation is likely to seize the overload of the Mi -26 - instead of the estimated 80 passengers on board there were 147 people (along with the crew). Although with overloading in Chechnya they often fly - “turntables” here are the most reliable transport. The technical service that prepared the car for the flight may be guilty. Although, again, regulatory work is in full and in a strictly established period - this is a rarity for a shortage of spare parts and funds for payment of full repairs. Among the punished, there will probably be the command of the air detachment that did not ensure the safety of the flight. Although what security can be if this heavy helicopter due to design features does not have reliable armor and always attracted the attention of militants as a large target (the Mi-26 more than once returned to the base with a perforated corps). And there are a lot of such "although". But still, only the "switchmen" will be responsible for the aircraft brought to the pen.

The main defendants are appointed militants. The main version is a terrorist attack (although in the conditions of the war the "terrorist attack" is not the most probably suitable word). From which it is clear - even under their nose, in forthcoming courses, near their airfields and headquarters, the Federals cannot protect themselves from Chechen "arrows" (portable anti -aircraft missile systems). And on minefields, not saboteurs are blown up, but their own. Apparently, a large number of victims of the airline are also explained by the fact that the helicopter fell on the minefield.

The scale of the tragedy is such that the investigation was personally headed by Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov. It seems, unlike the case of the death of Kursk, the prosecutors will not be allowed to work for a long time on the officially acceptable conclusions. This is indirectly evidenced by operational removal from the post of General Pavlov. But the probability of court over everyone who is somehow involved in the death of a helicopter is close to zero. All the scams of the defendants will not be enough, even with the obvious composition of the crime in the actions of very specific state husbands and military leaders. Everyone will be written off for war. Which, by the way, according to official figures, has long been completed in Chechnya.

Informburo: Mi-26 disaster near Hankala

Transport disasters (Grani.ru dossier)

Chechnya (dossier faces)

President and Army (Dossier Grani.ru)