Putin is speaking up against these crooks when the people need him to act the most. What has been done to these dedicated but vulnerable miners is disgrace to Russia and Putin must make sure anybody who had a hand in this disaster never gets the chance to pass future decisions on the mining in Russia. Russia's workers and their families must be protected against these thieves. It is the workers who do the work not the crooks who put their lives at risk. Long live Russia's hardworking Coalminers! you are heroes. I grieve for the loss of your comrades and friends, family members. Thank you Putin for acting with courage and conviction. Russia needs you to act and project the interests of ordinary people.

@ Marty from North Dakota, I expect the money will ultimately come from the Russian government, because the mine does not appear to have been managed very well. According to the transcripts of the meeting, previous citations by the mine regulator (don't know the name) were ignored. There were past recommendations to dismiss the mine manager, but he was still there in the meeting when Putin raised that very point. Looks like Russia still has some work to do in order to strengthen its safety oversight. Was somebody paid off? Or was the regulator so weak that nobody in the industry paid it any attention? I'm not saying only Russia has that problem. :)