Evaporating evidence: Russian investigators conduct search at Caspian Pipeline Consortium following Black Sea oil spill

Russian investigators began carrying out searches at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) on August 12 - the day after media reports emerged about an oil spill in the Black Sea that took place over the weekend. The criminal investigation regarding the spill was also reclassified under more serious marine pollution charges, which carry punishments of up to two years behind bars. At the same time, the CPC's chief executive insists that a slick in the Black Sea identified by Russian scientists is not oil, and the regional governor says there are no visible oil spills along the coastline. Scientists refute these claims. As one environmental expert told Meduza, oil residue on the water's surface has likely evaporated due to heat, but there's still a risk of environmental damage from the spill. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/12/evaporating-evidence