An employee of Russia's Academy of Sciences was killed on Monday when a canister filled with a nonflammable gas known as Freon exploded, the TASS news agency reported, citing an unidentified law enforcement official.
“The incident occurred in one of the rooms in the academy building, located on Leninsky Prospekt. A tank with Freon exploded. As a result, one person died,” the source said. The Moscow police press service confirmed the incident, TASS reported.
An unidentified adviser to the president of the Russian Academy of Sciences also told TASS about the explosion, claiming an employee servicing refrigeration equipment — which uses Freon gas — “made a technical error” while conducting maintenance.
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.
