Chelyabinsk regional court decided on May 11 as the date to proceed with the preliminary trial of GD of Mayak Production Association Vitaliy Sadovnikov. According to the spokesperson, they are not allowed to announce the names of the judges yet.

Mr Sadovnikov was charged with violation of regulations concerning operation and maintenance of environmentally hazardous equipment and waste (Clauses 246 and 247 (Part 1) of Russian Criminal Code) in February 2006. According to the results of the investigation carried out by the General Public Prosecutor of Russian Federation, the management’s actions led to dumping several dozens of cubic meters of radioactive effluent in the river Techa in 2001-2004. Although the accused was aware of the fact, he did nothing to prevent this from happening even though he could afford it economically.

Mr Sadovnikov had filed an amnesty petition in view of the centennial anniversary of Russian State Duma, yet it was rejected by the General Public Prosecutor of Russian Federation in Ural Federal District.