Investigators charge Pichugin, survivor of the Sea of Okhotsk

The Investigative Committee of Russia has charged traveler Mikhail Pichugin, who survived after a three-month drift in the Sea of Okhotsk on the catamaran boat "Baikat 470", with violation of the rules of operation of small vessels. This was reported on January 31 by Stanislav Astashenko, head of the forensics department of the Eastern Interregional Investigative Directorate for Transport of the Russian IC of the Russian Federation.

"Yesterday, January 30, Pichugin was charged with committing a crime under Article 263 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which caused the death of two [persons]. Currently, the investigation of the criminal case is ongoing, is at the final stage," TASS quoted him as saying.

It is also noted that the vessel's outboard motor was in unsatisfactory condition due to the fact that Pichugin did not comply with the rules of operation.

Earlier, on January 27, Pichugin admitted to breaking the law. It was noted that he went beyond the limits allowed by law 3 km from the shore. On the fact of the accident was initiated a criminal case under part 3 of article 263 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Violation of the rules of safety of movement and operation of water transport, causing the death of two or more persons by negligence").

On October 15, 2024 in the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk in Kamchatka fishermen found a boat that disappeared on August 9. It was carrying the only survivor, Mikhail Pichugin, and the bodies of two of his relatives - his brother and nephew. Pichugin was taken to Magadan and hospitalized. After being discharged later that month, he returned to Buryatia.