Kostenko Mine Tragedy: Defendants Sentenced

In the Qaraganda region, a court has delivered verdicts in the case of the October 2023 disaster at the Ivan Kostenko mine, which claimed the lives of 46 miners and injured 28 others, Orda.kz reports.

The mine director received the maximum penalty — eight years in prison.

The verdict, announced over an hour later than scheduled, was heard in the gym of the Qaraganda pre-trial detention center, where about 50 people — relatives of victims, lawyers, defendants, and prosecutors — had gathered.

All 10 defendants, including senior managers and engineering staff, were convicted under Article 277, Part 3 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code — violation of safety regulations during mining operations resulting in death.

The sentences:

• Sergei Mustivko, mine director – 8 years in a minimum-security colony
  
• Vladimir Gonochenko, Deputy Chief Engineer for Excavation – 6.5 years
• Vladimir Shishkanov, head of ventilation and safety – 5 years
  
• Dmitry Fedorenko, Deputy Chief Engineer for Safety – 6 years
  
• Vadim Eremin, Deputy Director of Production – 7 years
  
• Nikolay Groznov, chief engineer – 7 years
  
• Viktor Koptenkov, site manager – 7 years
  
• Dmitry Kotser, chief mechanic – 6 years
  
• Vitaly Pestryak, assistant head of dust and explosion protection – 6 years
  
• Tulegen Gabdushev, head of conveyor transport – 5 years

Time spent in pre-trial detention will be credited at a rate of one day served, counting as two days in prison.

At the time of the tragedy, the mine was owned by ArcelorMittal Temirtau, which has since faced sharp public criticism over safety practices in Kazakhstan’s coal sector.

Original Author: Inna Rutz