Authorities come under fire after deadly blaze

President Dmitry Medvedev has called on those responsible for 23 deaths in a nursing home fire to be brought to trial. The tragedy happened on January 31 in Russia's northern republic of Komi.

“Such tragedies would not happen if the attitude to those people, who live in nursing homes, was not as immoral and indifferent as it is now,” Medvedev said. “We can't put up with it any longer. The authorities should be responsible for these cases.”

The blaze reportedly broke out in a smoking room and swept quickly through the wooden building. The ages of the victims ranged from 67 to 90.

In the past few years there have been several fires at retirement homes and hospitals across Russia, claiming dozens of lives.