Mikhail Pichugin was sentenced for drifting in the Sea of Okhotsk. What is known

A court in Ulan-Ude sentenced Mikhail Pichugin to three years of forced labor for violating the rules of operation of the vessel, which led to the death of two people. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

Court decision in Buryatia

The Oktyabrsky District Court of Ulan-Ude found Mikhail Pichugin guilty of violating the rules of traffic safety and operation of water transport. The man was sentenced to three years of forced labor. In addition, the court decided to withhold 10% of his salary from the state income and imposed a fine of 40 thousand rubles.

Earlier, during the debate between the parties, the state prosecution requested three years of imprisonment for the defendant to serve his sentence in a penal colony. Pichugin partially admitted his guilt. In particular, he confirmed the fact of going to the open sea at a distance significantly exceeding the 1.6 miles allowed for his small vessel.

Details of the incident

The incident occurred on August 9, 2024, when Mikhail Pichugin, along with his brother Sergei and his 15-year-old nephew Ilya, set off on a catamaran-type boat "Baykat 470" from Cape Perovsky towards Sakhalin. Soon the connection with them was cut off. The search operation began a few days later, but it was possible to locate the ship only 67 days later — on October 14.

The boat was spotted by fishermen in the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk in the Kamchatka region. Of the three people, only Mikhail Pichugin remained alive, who lost about 50 kg of weight during the drift. The bodies of his brother and nephew were found on board the ship. The investigation found that the unsatisfactory condition of the engine caused by a violation of the operating rules contributed to the tragedy.

Survivor's condition and rehabilitation

After the rescue, Mikhail Pichugin was taken to Magadan in serious condition. The doctors of the specialized department of the local hospital conducted a comprehensive examination and treatment. During his stay in the medical facility, the man gained nine kilograms and was discharged in a satisfactory condition. Experts noted his psychological stability and the absence of serious deviations in mental health after the experience.

Gennady Lyashenko, Head of the Gastroenterology Department, spoke about the details of the patient's recovery before his discharge.

"He was released in a satisfactory condition. He tolerates the usual daily physical activity, eats on his own," the specialist said.

Court proceedings and articles of accusation

The criminal case was investigated under the article on violation of the rules of safety of movement of water transport, which resulted in the death of two persons. There was also an article about the use of forged documents. During the hearings, the defense asked to acquit Pichugin under the main article, pointing to the special circumstances of the incident, but acknowledged the violation of the territorial boundaries of the voyage.

The defendant's lawyer, Andrei Nazarov, confirmed his client's position on the key violation.

"He really recognizes the fact that he went beyond the 3 km allowed by law from the coast," RIA Novosti quoted the lawyer as saying.

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