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Russia Kemerovo fire: Aman Tuleyev quits as governor | Russia Kemerovo fire: Aman Tuleyev quits as governor |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The long-serving governor of the Russian region where a shopping mall fire left dozens of people dead has resigned. | The long-serving governor of the Russian region where a shopping mall fire left dozens of people dead has resigned. |
Aman Tuleyev said stepping aside from governing Kemerovo was "the right, conscious and only true decision" following the disaster. | Aman Tuleyev said stepping aside from governing Kemerovo was "the right, conscious and only true decision" following the disaster. |
He announced the move in a video address posted on the regional administration's website. | He announced the move in a video address posted on the regional administration's website. |
Last month's fire killed more than 60 people, most of them children. | Last month's fire killed more than 60 people, most of them children. |
Thousands of people protested in the aftermath of the tragedy over alleged safety failings at the Winter Cherry mall. | Thousands of people protested in the aftermath of the tragedy over alleged safety failings at the Winter Cherry mall. |
Investigators say the fire alarm was broken and exits were blocked - and that security guards, who were supposed to help with any emergency evacuation, were among the first to flee when the fire broke out. | Investigators say the fire alarm was broken and exits were blocked - and that security guards, who were supposed to help with any emergency evacuation, were among the first to flee when the fire broke out. |
Many children became victims because they were using entertainment facilities at the top of the mall, including a cinema whose doors are said to have been locked. | Many children became victims because they were using entertainment facilities at the top of the mall, including a cinema whose doors are said to have been locked. |
Investigators are looking at whether the fire could have been started by an electrical short-circuit or arson in the children's play area. | Investigators are looking at whether the fire could have been started by an electrical short-circuit or arson in the children's play area. |
President Vladimir Putin - who visited Kemerovo in the wake of the fire - blamed "criminal negligence" for the blaze. | President Vladimir Putin - who visited Kemerovo in the wake of the fire - blamed "criminal negligence" for the blaze. |
Mr Tuleyev - whose niece was reportedly killed in the fire - had been governor of the coal-mining region since 1997, AFP news agency reports. | Mr Tuleyev - whose niece was reportedly killed in the fire - had been governor of the coal-mining region since 1997, AFP news agency reports. |
A former Communist, he has been a well-known figure in the region for three decades, and stood in Russian presidential elections in 1991, 1996 and 2000. |