The owner of the Nafta-24 gas station that exploded in Makhachkala was tried in 2016 for illegal business. He sold liquefied gas without special permits and earned at least 1.3 million rubles. This is reported by the telegram channel SHOT.

In addition, Shamkhalov was fined eight times for failing to comply with the instructions of the Ministry of Emergency Situations on time. The gas station did not have a cooling system using water irrigation, a connection to a fire-fighting water supply system, or tank overflow sensors.

All this did not prevent gas stations from receiving millions on government contracts. It provided fuel and served the prosecutor's office of Dagestan, the department of Rostransnadzor for the North Caucasus Federal District, the regional Ministry of Health and the district hospital of the FMBA. Thus, despite the fines and the lack of safety precautions, the regulatory authorities allowed the gas station to operate. So the question is now not only to the owner, but also to the regulatory authorities.

Recall that on the evening of August 14 in Makhachkala there was an explosion at a car service, from where the fire spread to a gas station. 35 people were killed, more than 100 were injured and burns of varying severity.