A second investigation into the plane crash in western Russia that killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski said on Friday it had no evidence that would contradict the first probe's conclusion that the Polish pilots were to blame.
Earlier in February, Polish military prosecutors in Moscow questioned two Russian air traffic controllers from the airport where Kaczynski's plane crashed and said they planned to interview more witnesses as they believe that the pilots were not given vital information on weather and other conditions as they approached the airport.
Russia's Investigative Committee said on Friday it has no evidence to refute the Moscow-based CIS International Aviation Committee (MAK) report on causes of the crash.
MAK released a report on January 12, citing pilot error as the main cause of the tragedy. Polish experts and officials have criticized the report, saying it did not consider all the evidence.
The investigator leading the Russian probe into the accident said the investigation is currently at its final stage.
"I do not specify a time frame, but such a stage has come," Mikhail Gurevich said.
Gurevich said the investigation would finish only when each side has no more questions for the other.
The Polish Interior Ministry has said it will delay the release of a report on the causes of the plane crash until late March.
Lech Kaczynski, his wife and dozens of high-ranking Polish officials were killed on April 10, 2010, when their Tu-154 plane crashed near the Russian city of Smolensk while landing in thick fog.
The late president's twin brother, Polish opposition leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, has blamed Russia for the tragedy.
MOSCOW, February 18 (RIA Novosti)
