Arrest of Hospital Leaders Sparks Outrage Following Newborn Deaths in Siberia

Russian authorities announced on Wednesday the arrest of the chief doctor and the deputy head of the intensive care unit at a maternity hospital in Novokuznetsk, Siberia, following the deaths of nine newborns earlier this month.

Prosecutors have accused the two medical professionals of negligence leading to death, according to a statement from Russia’s Investigative Committee.

From January 4 to January 12, 2026, nine infants lost their lives at Novokuznetsk Maternity Hospital No. 1 due to the failure of the suspects to meet adequate standards in fulfilling their medical responsibilities, the agency reported.

Investigators noted that a forensic examination is being conducted to determine the cause of each infant’s death.

Regional health officials have previously stated that the newborns suffered from various illnesses contracted during childbirth or pregnancy.

Novokuznetsk Maternity Hospital No. 1, one of only two in a city with a population of around 500,000, announced on Tuesday that it has stopped admitting new patients due to a high incidence of respiratory infections.

The pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda reported that the hospital was lacking a significant number of staff, a claim which hospital officials refuted.

The tragic deaths in Novokuznetsk, located in the Kemerovo region, have provoked public outrage and drew sharp criticism from Russian officials.

In a statement, Valentina Matvienko, speaker of the Federation Council, described the event as a «tragedy» that «must never be allowed to happen again.»

Yana Lantratova, a lawmaker with the socially conservative A Just Russia party, expressed on Telegram that “the deaths of several infants in a single maternity hospital in such a brief timeframe is a crime against the nation,» especially given Russia’s ongoing demographic challenges.

On Tuesday, Kemerovo region Governor Ilya Seredyuk announced plans for regional Health Minister Andrei Tarasov to conduct inspections at all maternity hospitals and perinatal centers in the region to ensure their preparedness for complex cases.

Reporting by AFP contributed to this story.