The case was opened under Part 5 of Article 327 of the Criminal Code, which covers the use of a knowingly forged official document, the Moscow prosecutor's office said in a statement. According to the office, the manufacturer entered a falsified quality certificate into an electronic information system when placing one batch of the drug into circulation.
The statement did not name the manufacturer or the drug. According to RBC and Interfax, the company is Vetbiochim, which produces the Multikan-8 vaccine for dogs. The agency began inspecting the company after reports of mass animal deaths.
From mid-August, dog owners in the Yaroslavl region and other regions began reporting that their pets' condition deteriorated several days after vaccination. The animals showed drooling, convulsions, high fever and vomiting with blood, and refused food and water.
According to Takie Dela, at least 160 dogs died. Meduza reports that the number of dead animals reached at least 169.
At least 20 animal deaths were reported in the Yaroslavl region. Vetbiochim later recalled the 20th batch of Multikan-8, totaling 60,000 doses, which had been distributed to more than 10 regions. Three more batches were withdrawn from sale: the 21st batch of Multikan-8, and the 11th and 12th batches of Multikan-6.
In September, specialists at the All-Russian State Center for Quality and Standardization of Medicines for Animals and Feed, which is subordinate to Rosselkhoznadzor, found live Aujeszky's disease virus, known as pseudorabies, in samples from the 20th batch. The agency said the study confirmed a link between the use of the contaminated vaccine and the deaths of the dogs.
Aujeszky's disease affects dogs, cats, pigs, cattle and other animals. Infected dogs develop severe itching, convulsions and drooling; the disease quickly leads to death. The virus is usually not dangerous to humans.
Multikan-8 is intended to prevent viral diseases including distemper, rabies and other infections.