The private security company (PSC) "Zashchitsia Center" illegally assumed obligations to provide fire protection services in the shopping and entertainment center (SEC) "Zimnyaya Vishnya" in Kemerovo, TASS reports with reference to a statement by the chief expert of the Main Directorate for Licensing and Permitting Work of the Russian National Guard, Svetlana Ternova.

The private security company concluded an agreement with the management of the shopping mall to provide private security services, as well as services to prevent the threat of fires on the territory of the shopping mall building and within a radius of 50 meters from the facility, she noted. "Private security companies are established exclusively to provide security services. And fire prevention is not among the services provided by security organizations," Ternova said.

According to her, the "Center for Protection" did not have the necessary staff to provide such services, nor the appropriate equipment to conduct training. "Center for Protection" concluded two contracts for the provision of security services with the shopping center. Moreover, one of them was concluded after the fire, she added. "After the fire, the private security company immediately resorted to fraud and as a result, two contracts appeared. I am sure that one of the contracts appeared after the tragic events," Ternova said.

In turn, Leonid Vedenov, head of the Main Directorate of State Control and Licensing and Permitting Work of the Russian Guard, said that the holding company, which was part of the private security company "Center of Protection" and provided services to "Winter Cherry", and two more security companies have already been liquidated. "The owners owned two more security structures that were part of the security holding. These two organizations also surrendered their licenses," he said.

Law enforcement officers are currently seizing documents from the Kemerovo Region Emergencies Ministry, a source told Interfax . "Investigators are seizing documents for all inspections conducted at the shopping center, as well as for inspections of government contracts," he said, adding that the investigation has been going on for the second day.

The fire in the Winter Cherry occurred on March 25. 64 people were unable to escape from the building and died, including 41 children.

Photos from the burned shopping center in Kemerovo 1 / 9

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Rosgvardia found violations in the work of a private security company in "Winter Cherry"