The Kamchatka Regional Court has issued its definitive ruling in a high-profile criminal case concerning the tragic deaths of a tourist group on the formidable Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano, a decision that sends a clear message regarding accountability in adventure tourism. An appellate panel rejected the defense’s appeal, upholding the conviction of guide Ivan Alabugin, who was previously found guilty of providing services that failed to meet essential safety standards. Regional prosecutors confirmed that the verdict has now officially entered into legal force, stating that no grounds for the acquittal of the convicted individual were found.
Throughout the extensive court proceedings, Mr. Alabugin and his legal counsel steadfastly maintained his complete innocence, seeking to overturn the initial decision rendered by the lower court. However, the judicial collegium, upon meticulous review of the appeal’s arguments and careful consideration of the state prosecutor’s position, affirmed the previously imposed sentence. Last August, the Ust-Kamchatsky District Court had sentenced Alabugin to four and a half years in prison. He was charged with committing a crime under Part 3 of Article 238 of the Russian Criminal Code – providing unsafe services that, through negligence, resulted in the deaths of more than two persons.
The tragic events unfolded in the autumn of 2022. A group of tourists, accompanied by two instructors, commenced their ascent of the volcano’s southern slope on August 30. Several days into the expedition, on September 3, at an altitude of 4,000 meters, two participants began to experience severe health issues. Faced with this critical situation, a decision was made to divide the group: these two ailing tourists, escorted by Ivan Alabugin, began a descent towards a volcanologist’s cabin, while the remaining members continued their challenging climb towards the summit.
The remaining part of the group, consisting of eight tourists and the second guide, successfully reached an elevation of 4,400 meters. However, due to severe icy conditions and the impossibility of further ascent, they made the difficult choice to turn back and descend. It was during this perilous descent that a catastrophic fall occurred. The individuals sustained severe injuries from the fall down the icy slope. The brutal combination of these injuries and extreme hypothermia ultimately led to the deaths of all nine individuals in that tethered group, a devastating loss that shocked the international adventure community.
Ivan Alabugin, who had descended with the surviving members of the tour before the main group’s fatal accident, initially participated in the preliminary investigation as a witness. Subsequently, his procedural status was changed to that of an accused. The investigation ultimately concluded that the entire organization of the tour was conducted with significant violations of established safety norms. With the Kamchatka Regional Court’s final approval of the sentence, Mr. Alabugin is now facing the full term of his imprisonment, marking the definitive legal conclusion to a case that highlights the critical importance of safety protocols in high-stakes adventure travel.