A 24-year-old horseback rider was killed after being crushed by a tree that was being chopped down in Moscow's popular Sokolniki Park, the Interfax news agency reported Sunday.
Citing an unnamed source in Moscow's emergency services, Interfax reported that workers had failed to seal off the area where they were chopping down trees, causing one of them to fall onto the unsuspecting horseback rider on Friday afternoon. The horse was also killed in the incident, according to the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper.
Interfax reported that a criminal case had been launched in response to the incident. If convicted of rendering services that did not meet safety standards, suspects in the case could face up to 10 years in prison.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.