A Vodokanal employee has been convicted in connection with the mass poisoning in Baksan.

A court sentenced a Baksan Vodokanal employee to eight months of restricted freedom after finding him guilty of poisoning residents with tap water.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, an outbreak of acute intestinal infection occurred in Baksan in early September 2024. More than 200 people sought medical attention, and at least 70 were hospitalized. On September 12 of that year, the republic's Ministry of Health reported that all patients had been discharged from the hospital.

A site foreman at the Baksan Municipal Unitary Enterprise "Vodokanal" was found guilty in the case of an outbreak of acute intestinal infection in Baksan in 2024, according to the Baksan District Court, whose publication was brought to the attention of Gazeta Yuga on December 2.

According to the newspaper, the convicted person is Yura Taov. The court concluded that he "improperly performed his duties" from July to September 2024.

"Despite a direct order from Rospotrebnadzor and an order from management, he failed to ensure the required dose of hyperchlorination of drinking water, which led to the introduction of dangerous bacteria into the water supply system," the court stated.

113 residents of Baksan, "including many minors," were recognized as victims; all of them suffered minor injuries.

"During the trial, the defendant fully admitted his guilt and petitioned for the case to be heard under a special procedure, which does not require a full judicial investigation if the evidence collected is confirmed. The state prosecution and representatives of the victims did not object," the court's website stated.

The court sentenced Taov to eight months of restricted freedom. "The convicted person will be required not to leave the municipality, not to change his place of residence or work without the consent of the supervisory authority, and to register monthly," the statement reads.

According to the publication, the man was found guilty under Part 1 of Article 236 of the Russian Criminal Code (Violation of sanitary and epidemiological rules, which, through negligence, resulted in mass illness or poisoning of people). This carries a fine of 500,000 rubles to two years' imprisonment.