Hydra Fire: Kazakh Businessman Daniyar Abulgazin Denies Allegations Over Blaze

One of Kazakhstan's richest men has denied any wrongdoing after organizing a party on a superyacht suspected of igniting a forest fire with a fireworks display. Daniyar Abulgazin, along with seven other Kazakh nationals, was on board the luxury vessel Persephoni last month when the blaze burned through 300 acres on the island of Hydra, south of Athens. The Greek authorities are prosecuting them for complicity to arson.

Greece is currently experiencing its first heatwave of 2024, and firefighters have been battling numerous wildfires daily. Initially, authorities alleged that fireworks were launched directly from the yacht. However, Greek media now report that the fireworks may have been launched from a beach on the island after people on Persephoni took a boat to shore.

The case has sparked outrage in Greece, further fueled by reports that the yacht's passengers flew home shortly after the fire on June 21. In a statement, Mr. Abulgazin said he had rented Persephoni for a week and flew home the following day as planned. He stated that he had spoken to representatives of the Greek authorities, who did not make any claims against him or his guests in connection with the incident.

Mr. Abulgazin expressed surprise at the later allegations and sadness over the fire. He insisted that neither he nor his guests did anything that could have caused the blaze, stating, "We strictly followed the fire safety rules established on the yacht. Neither I nor my guests asked the crew of the yacht or any other third parties to take any actions that could lead to a fire."

He also promised full cooperation with the Greek authorities in their investigation. Kazakhstan has no extradition agreement with Greece, making it unlikely that Abulgazin and his guests will face questioning in Greece.

The yacht’s captain and first mate are still detained, while 15 other crew members who were initially arrested have been released on bail with restrictions. Daniyar Abulgazin is a prominent figure in the Kazakh petroleum industry, with a personal fortune estimated at $400 million (£315 million).