One in all Kazakhstan’s richest males has denied wrongdoing after organising a celebration on a superyacht that’s suspected of igniting a forest fireplace with a fireworks show.
Daniyar Abulgazin is one in every of eight Kazakh nationals who have been on board the posh vessel final month, and who’re being prosecuted for complicity to arson by the Greek authorities.
The businessman rented the yacht Persephoni and was within the space when the blaze burnt by means of 300 acres on the island of Hydra, south of Athens.
Greece is grappling with its first heatwave of 2024, and firefighters have been battling a number of wildfires daily.
Initially, authorities alleged that fireworks have been launched immediately from the yacht, however now Greek media report they could have been launched from a seaside on the island after individuals on Persephoni took a ship to shore.
The case has sparked outrage in Greece, additional fuelled by experiences that the yacht’s passengers flew residence shortly after the 21 June fireplace.
In a press release, Mr Abulgazin stated he had rented Persephoni for per week, and flew residence the next day – which was at all times the plan.
He stated he had spoken to “representatives of the Greek authorities, who didn’t make any claims towards me or my company in reference to this incident”.
He was “shocked” to later be taught of the allegations being made, Mr Abulgazin stated.
He added that he was “very saddened” by the hearth, however that neither he nor his company did something that would have led to it.
“We strictly adopted the hearth security guidelines established on the yacht. Neither I nor my company requested the crew of the yacht or some other third events to take any actions that would result in a hearth,” he stated.
He additionally promised full co-operation with the Greek authorities of their investigation. Kazakhstan has no extradition settlement with Greece so they’re unlikely to must go there to face questioning.
The yacht’s captain and first mate are nonetheless being detained, whereas 15 different crew members who have been initially arrested have been launched on bail with restrictions.
Mr Abulgazin is a serious determine within the Kazakh petroleum trade, with a private fortune estimated at $400m (£315m).
