A blacklist of 80 Moscow clubs in violation of fire safety regulations was published on Tuesday by Russia's emergencies ministry, with eight of the venues already closed by court orders.

President Dmitry Medvedev ordered nationwide checks after the deadly December 5 fire in a nightclub in the west Urals city of Perm that has claimed 148 lives, with many victims still in intensive care.

It is hoped that the comprehensive inspections will uncover violations of fire safety regulations and prevent another tragedy.

Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a newspaper interview last week that inspectors had for years turned a blind eye to breaches of fire safety in the Lazy Horse nightclub.

Russia has an appalling fire-safety record. According to the country's emergency services, 15,165 people died in fires across the country in 2008, including 584 children. In the United States, with more than twice the population, the figure is around 3,400 deaths a year.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin described last week fire safety measures in Russia as "insufficient and ineffective."

MOSCOW, December 15 (RIA Novosti)