The head of Moscow's subway system has been sacked in the wake of a rush-hour derailment in which 22 people were killed and 136 others injured, according to Russian news agencies.

Ivan Besedin, who had been in the job since 2011, was dismissed by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.

Mr Sobyanin said the crash "has crossed out the major work that was carried out over the last years".

Mr Besedin was replaced by Dmitry Pegov, a former railway official.

One day after the fatal crash on July 15, investigators detained two Moscow subway workers and said they were preparing to file criminal charges against them.

In recent months, subway workers have complained of declining safety standards in the system and disorganised measures for aiding stricken passengers.

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