Russia: Cat thrown off train into snow found dead

Russia's RZhD rail giant has apologised to the owners of a cat who died after being thrown off a company train by a conductor in freezing temperatures.

"We sincerely regret that the cat Twix died", the state-owned RZhD said, vowing to change its regulations.

Footage earlier emerged apparently showing the ginger-and-white cat being unceremoniously dumped into the snow in the central Kirov city on 11 January.

The train conductor is reported to have mistaken the male cat for a stray.

This happened after the feline escaped from its travel crate, and was spotted by passengers walking along a carriage.

When the episode came to light, hundreds of volunteers started searching the railway station area in Kirov.

The cat was eventually found dead on Saturday, and later identified by its owners.

Some reports say Twix died from an animal bite and frostbite.

Vast areas of Russia were hit by a cold spell at the time, with temperatures as low as -30C reported in Kirov.

More than 56,000 people have now signed a petition calling for a criminal investigation to be opened against the female conductor, after local authorities refused to do so.

A separate petition - signed by nearly 180,000 - is asking for the female conductor, who has not been publicly identified, to be sacked.

One of Twix's owners told state media he intended to pursue the matter through the courts.

Thousands of people across Russia were following developments on a specially created social media channel.

One user sent a picture of Twix with the angel's wings and halo over its head.

On Saturday, the RZhD said it was already implementing changes that would prohibit company conductors from "disembarking animals from trains".

Instead, the company added, they would be handed to employees at railway stations, and animal protection groups would be called.