Kolbanov alleged that the captain had damaged an underwater remote-controlled vehicle during Russia's rescue efforts.
Kolbanov said the vehicle was damaged through lack of professionalism. He said its breakdown meant the rescue operation cost an additional 10 million rubles ($353,000).
A British rescue team with a sophisticated underwater robot eventually managed to free the submarine, which had become entangled in cables and fishing nets at the sea bottom.
The seven sailors on board the submarine had spent three days underwater.
(ITAR-TASS/AFP/AP)