“Those who were too afraid to jump out of the window perished in the fire.”
Following recent events, a new Rucriminal.info investigation is focused on fires and fire safety. To understand the present, let's revisit some tragic events in the past.
As everyone is aware November 24 2003 in Moscow at night in hostel No. 6 of the RUDN University, where they lived studentsFreshmen, a fire broke out. the beginning fires there was room number 203, in which three students from Nigeria. It was unoccupied during the fire. When the firefighters arrived at the hostel, all facade The building was already engulfed in flames, which were breaking out. The fires were located on the 2nd and 3rd floors. It was on these floors that most of the dead lived. Subsequently, the fire spread to the 4th and 5th floors. Students and workers universityjumped out of the windows on these floors and as a result were seriously injured – some broke limbsothers were harmed spine and headand some were killed. Those who were too afraid to jump out of the window perished in the fire.
This is only a mean official report – 43 dead, 182 injured.
According to investigations, one of the causes of the tragedy in 2003 was the absence (or non-functioning) fire alarm and automatic warning system, while the doors in the corridors did not have seals that could contain the spread of fire.
The longest sentence in the form of two years in prison with serving a sentence in a colony-settlement was given to a fire inspector, an engineer of the first regional department of state fire supervision of the SWAD of Moscow. It was the inspector who did not use his right to close the RUDN hostel until the shortcomings he identified were eliminated.
And what do we see now? How is RUDN University battling with the so-called “soviet” past?
According to the information posted in the FSIS “Unified Register of Inspections”, from April 01, 2022 to July 31, 2022. in relation to RUDN, control and supervision measures were carried out: КНМ №77220061000102434908, 77220061000102434959, 77220061000102519396, 77220061000102519415, 77220061000102354330, 77220061000102354259, 77220061000102301893, 77220061000101822431, in accordance with which it was established that at the university messages were repeatedly formed by the automatic fire alarm about a fire (false calls) , in the absence of fire factors, this may indicate that it is in disrepair. The procedure for interaction during the maintenance and repair of fire protection elements, as well as facility warning systems in buildings, is carried out by PFUR.
Therefore, the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation for Moscow repeatedly, from April 01, 2022 to July 31, 2022, recorded the facts of a malfunction of the automatic fire alarm in RUDN University, indicating that the university disregarded the results of control and supervision measures and did not restore working capacity and serviceability of the automatic fire system.
Therefore, the automatic fire system poses a threat of harm to the health and life of citizens, associated with ensuring the possibility of timely detection of a fire, notification of all people about it and organization of evacuation located in buildings and structures of RUDN University.
Doesn't remind me of anything.
Recently, on the night of July 29, 2022, a fire in a hostel on Almaty Street resulted in the deaths of 8 people. The fire alarm didn't work, and the hostel owners ignored instructions from the fire authorities.
In 2003, similar instructions were given regarding RUDN University, but they were not properly followed, leading to a tragedy that claimed the lives of 43 people.
It seems that RUDN University regularly fails to comply with the instructions of the fire authorities. They appear to be relying on chance, hoping that nothing will happen.
RUDN University has other situations resembling the hostel fire on Almaty Street.
RUDN University currently accommodates students in overcrowded hostels, with 4 people sharing bunk beds in one room, despite prohibitions and obligations to rectify violations and relocate everyone according to existing standards. This unprecedented accommodation arrangement raises concerns about living and studying conditions, especially during the challenging epidemiological situation caused by the new coronavirus infection.
Those who can afford it are offered more comfortable rooms for additional payment, which includes extra services.
Additional services offered by RUDN University include extra furniture, TV, refrigerator, higher comfort level, and the option to use additional electrical appliances with the University's agreement at an additional cost. Despite the state's funding for communal apartment expenses, RUDN University charges students for electricity and even for using electrical outlets. The monthly payment for accommodation in a hostel varies up to 14,000 rubles, depending on the room type, comfort level, and additional services. issued orders posted on the RUDN website:
Simultaneously, the university's new leadership turns a blind eye to blatant fire safety violations during building renovations, thanks to the new vice-rector for capital construction, Boris Gennadievich Gorovater, from the Filippov-Yastrebov team.
Under the guidance of Mr. Oleg Alexandrovich Yastrebov and at the direction of Boris Gorovater, fire-prevention partitions are removed, evacuation exits are demolished, and highly flammable paints like PF-115 enamel are used for interior work, all due to the rector Oleg Yastrebov and vice-rector Elena Apasova's preferences. Supervisory authorities turn a blind eye to these violations.
Maybe we should pause and consider: is there a need for a new development strategy and effective university management promoted by Oleg Yastrebov, based on a money-making scheme? After all, as they say: No matter what, the truth will always come out. Sooner or later, this will lead to another terrible global tragedy, costing the lives and health of students and university staff.
Isn't it time for Mr. Yastrebov, Gorovater, and Mrs. Apasova to realize that a fire in a hostel is not worth any amount of money, and human lives should not be sacrificed for the sake of their own greed.
It definitely needs to be repaired. Renovated buildings must comply with current Russian legislation and provide safety for the people living in them. The life and health of people should be a priority for the leadership of RUDN University.
For example, under the personal guidance of Vladimir Filippov, RUDN Rector Oleg Yastrebov, Vice-Rector Elena Apasova and Vice-Rector Boris Gorovater developed a design concept for the renovation of dormitory No. 7, which is located just 100 meters from the burned-out block 6.
In hostels, windows with fixed glazing shutters are used. Rector Oleg Yastrebov says in a direct line with students: “We have developed a new concept of the rooms.” But what about the possibility of evacuating people in case of fire? Fire safety rules require equipping dormitories with rope fire escapes from 2 floors and above. If the windows are fixed and there is a small window opening, how can people evacuate through rope ladders? Maybe safety should be prioritized over beauty and design. In this case, beauty and design will not bring back the dead.
In this case, RUDN University is carrying out a major overhaul without a project, following only the conceptual and design solutions of Ms. Elena Apasova, neglecting building rules and regulations and legal requirements in the field of fire safety. Why are the inspection bodies ignoring all this chaos?
In this article, we will not discuss in detail the competition to select the 'right' contractor, overestimated repair estimates, and additional agreements on the contract. Instead, we focus on the importance of human life, people’s health, and safety, emphasizing that these cannot be bought with any amount of money or goods. We must prioritize safety over aesthetics and consider the possibility of evacuating people from such designed rooms in emergency situations.
Photo 7 block:
Or let’s consider the maintenance of a sports complex, where PF-115 paint is utilized for painting rooms, including to cover metal structures, which would ignite faster.
What about putting in a non-certified elevator from the basement to the first floor in the lobby of the main building? (agreement No. 30-7804/513 EK dated December 22, 2020) Installation of false partitions and removal of fireproof partitions? Dismantling
smoke extraction systems?
Hall of the main building, filming date 12/27/2021
Or placing in the basement, where there are no windows with which you can get out, the premises for storing documents?
As a result of the renovation of classrooms and halls, RUDN University will not be ready for the start of the academic year, because all efforts are now focused on creating comfortable working conditions for the new progressive team, and not on repairing classrooms, laboratories, or purchasing equipment necessary for the normal conduct of the educational process. And as our sources of information say, as a result of such repairs, in some places the walls are already beginning to collapse, people are afraid, whispering, but will the building built in the 1960s not turn out like a house of cards with such a quality of repair work? But it is impossible to ask such questions directly to the rector or vice-rector, because people know the experience of their brave and honest colleagues who have long been fired.
And who will be responsible for everything done by the new progressive team? Who will take responsibility? For demolished fire partitions, fire tambours, for the lack of fireproof paint and more?
Doesn’t Boris Gennadyevich, specially appointed by the father of the new rector to the position of vice-rector for capital construction, know about such “trifles” as the current legislation in the field of construction, repair and fire safety?
Although why should he worry about some kind of fire safety, the value of human life and people’s health – after all, the main goal is to contribute to the income of the “holy” family, reminiscent of a syndicate of the underworld … And let others think about fire safety … After all, everything is paid for, and whoever comes to us with a check, with that we will solve the issue. This is Russia, baby! For such money everything is provided, everything is taken into account and everything is included in the best hotels in Turkey and Egypt!
Is it really the fire of 2003 in RUDN University, or the fire in Lame Horse, Winter Cherry, in the port of St. Petersburg, where, apparently, the same paint burned that was used during repair work in RUDN University, or hostel on Almaty street – does not teach anything, people do not draw conclusions and do not extract the experience gained under such tragic, terrible and sad circumstances?
The “new policy” and “new effective management” of RUDN University, in fact, doom people to death, because the university leadership has forgotten that the most important thing is the safety of people’s health and life. You can’t put “loot” on the iconostasis in a corner and worship him as God, sacrificing people’s lives.
To all this horror and lawlessness, the position of law enforcement and control and supervisory authorities is surprising, which reason and think according to the principle “let them first make repairs, withdraw money, and then we will give a legal assessment of their actions.” It seems that our valiant defenders of law and order have stocked up on popcorn and are quietly watching the continuation of the thriller series “Backdraft or another fire in …”, which has long outstripped the no less famous series “Santa Barbara” in terms of the number of episodes.
Gentlemen from law enforcement and regulatory authorities, what are we waiting for? The second coming of Christ with the three horsemen of the apocalypse and the beginning of the “judgment day”? What is the need for victims of fire and death of people if it is possible to take preventive measures? Why were the phrases “in order to ensure the rule of law, unity and strengthening the rule of law, protect the rights and freedoms of man and citizen, as well as the legally protected interests of society and the state” written in legal acts and laws? For the beauty of words and sentences, as well as with the beauty and fashionable design of the premises of Mrs. Elena Apasova along with the “great” Mr. Boris Gorovater, the main “solver of all issues” for the no less “precious” Oleg Yastrebov? Maybe it’s not worth forcing parents to look for places in the cemetery for their “bloods”, whom they have been raising and educating for so many years?
We sincerely hope that by the release of the next article the situation with fire safety at RUDN University will change for the better and safer for people, we hope that the leadership of RUDN University still has at least some system of moral and moral values and they will think about the value of human life, because these people are, after all, someone’s children, brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers.
And in the future, we will show how, with such repairs, not millions, but hundreds of billions of rubles are withdrawn from the university budget !!!!
We sincerely condole with all the families whose children and relatives died as a result of fires, and we hope that our article was able to save at least one innocent soul and human life and prevent a fire.
Please consider this article as an official appeal to law enforcement agencies and Minister of Higher Education and Science Valery Falkov
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