- Greece charges wealthy Kazakh yachters over wildfire
- Eight Kazakhstan citizens, all of whom have since returned home, have been charged over a wildfire that broke out on the Greek island of Hydra, reportedly caused by firecrackers being let off on a beach
- One of Kazakhstan’s richest men, Daniyar Abulgazin, has denied any wrongdoing
- The fire, which burned through 300 acres on the island of Hydra, occurred during Greece’s first heatwave of 2024
Greece charges wealthy Kazakh yachters over wildfire, millionaire surprised at allegations
One of Kazakhstan’s richest men, Daniyar Abulgazin, has denied any wrongdoing after a party he organised on a superyacht allegedly sparked a forest fire in Greece.
Abulgazin, along with seven other Kazakh nationals, is being prosecuted for complicity to arson by Greek authorities. The fire, which burned through 300 acres on the island of Hydra, occurred during Greece’s first heatwave of 2024, with firefighters battling multiple wildfires daily.
Initially, authorities believed fireworks were launched directly from the yacht Persephoni. However, new reports suggest the fireworks may have been set off from a beach after people from the yacht took a boat to shore. The incident has caused outrage in Greece, especially as the yacht’s passengers reportedly flew home shortly after the June 21 fire.
Abulgazin stated that he rented Persephoni for a week and flew home the next day, as planned. He claimed Greek authorities did not raise any issues with him or his guests during his stay. He expressed surprise at the allegations and sadness over the fire but maintained that he and his guests followed all fire safety rules and did not request any actions that could have caused the blaze.
Abulgazin promised full cooperation with the Greek investigation, though Kazakhstan has no extradition agreement with Greece, making it unlikely he will face questioning there. The yacht’s captain and first mate remain detained, while 15 other crew members have been released on bail.
Abulgazin is a prominent figure in Kazakhstan’s petroleum industry, with an estimated fortune of $400 million (£315 million).