In the case of the fire in the College of Economics and Law in Odesa, the interrogation of witnesses has begun

Today marks the sixth anniversary of one of the worst tragedies in Odesa - the fire at the College of Economics and Law that claimed the lives of 16 people. The prosecutor's office said that the court has now started questioning witnesses.

This was reported by Intent.

Today, December 4, marks six years since the fire at the College of Economics and Law on Troitska Street in Odesa. This tragedy was one of the largest in the history of the city. This tragedy claimed the lives of 16 people, including students, teachers and employees of the State Emergency Service, and left a deep scar in the history of the city and the country. On this day, the memory of the victims is honored.

The prosecutor's office told Intent that the case against the director, deputy director and head of the day department is being heard in court. The case is currently being considered on the merits, and the examination of evidence has been completed. The composition of the court has also changed. Law enforcement officials noted that they have now started questioning witnesses.

A year ago, the Prymorskyi Court of Odesa considered the case of the fire at the Odesa College of Economics, Law and Hotel and Restaurant Business on December 4, 2019. At that time, the Prosecutor's Office of Odesa Region informed Intent that the case was at the stage of examining written evidence.

The indictment is against: Lyubov Kocherha, director of the Odesa College of Economics, Law and Hotel and Restaurant Business; Tetiana Fomich, head of the household; Iryna Taranova, head of the full-time department; and Andriy Hayetskyi, former deputy director for administrative and economic work of the college.

The fire also led to criminal proceedings against the former head of the Main Department of the State Emergency Service in Odesa Oblast, Viktor Fedorchak, who is accused of systematic improper performance of his duties. The indictment against him is being considered by the Malynovskyi Court of Odesa.

In 2021, the judge denied a motion to lift the arrest from the Asvadurov building, where a fire broke out on December 4, 2019, killing 16 people. A lawyer from the Odesa College of Economics, Law and Hotel and Restaurant Business, Oleh Syvolobtsev, filed a request with the court. He insisted that the premises were in permanent use by the educational institution and belonged to the Ministry of Education and Science.

The six-story building at 25 Troitska Street in the center of Odesa, which housed the Odesa College of Economics, Law and Hotel and Restaurant Business, as well as a number of institutions and companies, caught fire on December 4, 2019, at about 11:10 a.m. The fire killed 16 people, six of whom were children. It was only on December 14, 2019, that rescuers finished clearing the rubble at the fire site.

Анна Бальчінос