Russia checks mines for violations

Russia's Federal Agency on Technical Supervision continues to examine a number of mines across the country. This follows the fatal blast in Ulyanovskaya mine in the Kuznetsk Basin, on March 19, which killed more than 100 people.

Earlier, the Federal Ecological, Technical and Atomic Supervisory Service suspended work at 33 coal mines in Russia's regions, after a series of checks were carried out.

Nine out of the 29 suspended mines in Kuzbass still remain closed.

According to the spokesman for the Agency, the suspension will last from 2 to 60 days, until all violations are rectified.