Despite the emergence of poisoned batches, vendors in Sochi continued to offer and sell chacha.
The Russian authorities are actively investigating a methanol poisoning case that has claimed at least 10 lives in Sochi, a popular tourist destination. The victims were poisoned after consuming ChaCha, a homemade alcohol, purchased at the Cossack Market in Adler.
Two local women, 71-year-old Ethere and her 30-year-old granddaughter, Olesya, have been arrested and detained for their involvement in the sale of substandard products. They admitted guilt, and a criminal case has been opened under the Russian Criminal Code for the production and sale of goods not meeting safety standards.
The women's method of making the wine involved buying spirits, extracting them, mixing with plain water, and sometimes preparing it right on the market. Despite hearing about the first casualties, the sellers continued to sell the poisoned ChaCha.
Methanol, a highly toxic compound commonly found in illicit alcohol, was confirmed as the cause of the poisoning and deaths among victims, including a family affected in this case. The authorities are investigating who supplied the methanol used in the preparation of the deadly ChaCha.
The symptoms of the poisoning include weakness, drowsiness, coma, and death. The Cossack Market, where the deadly ChaCha was sold, faces closure due to the poisoning incident.
Ethere, a seasoned saleswoman who has been selling homemade wine on Sochi markets for nearly 30 years, and her granddaughter face up to 10 years in prison for their involvement in the poisoning. Further investigations involve a 55-year-old man from Abkhazia selling homemade alcoholic beverages, with seized quantities undergoing examination.
The seriousness of the case has prompted heightened police activity along the coast to combat similar illicit alcohol trading. The investigation remains ongoing with active police operations aimed at fully exposing the supply chain behind the deadly artisanal alcohol distributed at the Cossack Market in Sochi.
[1] Source: Russian news outlet, [Link] [2] Source: Sochi hospital report, [Link]
