Daniyar Abulgazin, one of Kazakhstan’s richest men, denies any wrongdoing in connection with the fire that broke out in Hydra in late June.

Abulgazin is one of eight Kazakh nationals on board the luxury yacht who are being prosecuted by Greek authorities for complicity in arson, the BBC points out.

The businessman had rented the boat “Persephone” and was in the area when the fire that broke out burned 300 acres on the island of Hydra.

The publication comments that authorities initially claimed that fireworks were launched directly from the yacht, but now Greek media reports that they may have been launched from a beach on the island where the yacht’s passengers disembarked by boat.

In a statement, Abulgazin said he had chartered the boat for a week and flew home the next day as originally planned.

As he said he had spoken with “representatives of the Greek authorities, who did not make any claims against me or my guests in relation to this incident”.

He was “surprised” as he said later when he learned of the allegations made, Mr Abulgazin said.

He added that he was “very sorry” about the fire, but that neither he nor his guests did anything that could have caused it.

“We strictly followed the fire safety rules laid down on the yacht. Neither I nor my guests asked the yacht’s crew or other third parties to take any actions that could lead to a fire,” he said.

He also promised full cooperation with the Greek authorities in their investigation. Kazakhstan does not have an extradition agreement with Greece, so it is unlikely that they will have to go there for questioning.

At the same time, the ship’s captain and lieutenant remain in custody, while 15 other crew members who were initially arrested have been released on bail.

Daniyar Abulgazin is a major figure in Kazakhstan’s oil industry, with a personal fortune estimated at $400 million.