KBR victims of political repressions appealed to ECtHR for compensation of moral harm

Victims of political repressions from the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR), who were deported in 1944 from their residential areas to Central Asia are addressing their lawsuits first to their district courts and then – the appellate instance for recovery of their moral harm from the state. After being rejected, they file complaints to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Hundreds of such complaints have been already sent to Strasbourg, said Tamara Gerieva, a member of the Board of Elders of the Balkar People.

In total, several thousand people have already turned to local courts seeking compensation. The claimed sums range from 5 to 13 million roubles, depending on whether the claimant him/herself or his/her parents were repressed, Ms Gerieva told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The mass deportation of Balkars was undertaken on March 8, 1944. In total, at least 37,713 Balkar nationals were sent in 14 trains for settlement in Central Asia. The staff of deportees consisted of 52% of children, 30% of women, and 18% of men. In 1957, after 13 years of exile, Balkars were allowed to return to their homeland. On March 28, 1957, the government decided to restore the statehood of the Balkar people.