Russia detains coal tycoon over deadly Siberia mine blast

Russian investigators said yesterday they had detained tycoon Mikhail Fedyayev after a blast at a coal mine in Siberia that killed 51 people last month.

The Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said in a statement that it had charged the owner of the SDS-Ugol company and three other people with violating "industrial safety requirements" and "abuse of authority" that led to "grave consequences" at the group's Listvyazhnaya mine.

The mine is in the Kemerovo region, in southwestern Siberia.

Russia has seen a number of deadly mine blasts in recent years but this was the first time investigators detained the top owner of a mine.

Fedyayev, 59, is one of Russia's top coal tycoons and is politically well connected.