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Sentences Pronounced In 'Bulgaria' Tourist Boat Tragedy


A court in Kazan, the capital of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, has sentenced five defendants in a high-profile case involving the sinking of an overcrowded tourist boat in 2011.

The five had been found guilty of abuse of power and violations of safety regulations.

The "Bulgaria" sank in the Volga River on July 10, 2011, killing 122 people, including dozens of children.

Svetlana Inyakina, the director of the company that rented the vessel, was sentenced to 11 years in jail.

Ramil Khametov, the first assistant to the boat's captain, received 6 1/2 years in jail.

Regional river safety officials Vladislav Semyonov and Irek Timergazeyev were sentenced to five and six years in prison, respectively.

The fifth defendant, Yakov Ivashov, who was responsible for ship registration, was sentenced to five years in jail but amnestied and released from custody.

The ship's captain died in the tragedy.

Based of reporting by RIA Novosti and Interfax

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