Russia gives presidential plane crash probe materials to Poland

Investigation Committee under the Prosecutor General's Office (SKP) chief Alexander Bastrykin confirmed on Monday that "there was no explosion aboard" the plane and that "the investigation at this point is proceeding just as actively as when it began".

"A big group of SKP specialists is working" on the case, and "the first stage of the investigation is complete," he said.

During the first stage, experts conducted chemical and technical examinations to find out whether the onboard equipment was in order.

"We maintain constant contact with Polish prosecutors and give the Polish Prosecutor's Office access to all investigative actions. We are completely open to cooperation," Bastrykin said, adding that information from the flight data recorders will be handed over to Poland as it becomes available.

Meanwhile, the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) has begun making copies of information from the flight data recorders. After the copies have been certified, they will be handed over to a Polish delegation led by Interior Minister Jerzy Miller.

Officials from both sides, including SKP officials and Russian and Polish military prosecutors, are watching the copying process.

The Tu-154 plane carrying an official Polish delegation for memorial events at Katyn crashed near the town of Pechersk in the Smolensk region at about 10:50 Moscow time on April 10. All 96 people aboard the plane died, including the Polish president and his wife; Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.