Court rejects moral compensation to Beslan victims

Today, the Pravoberezhny Court of North Ossetia has considered the cassation complaint of the All-Russian Public Organization "Voice of Beslan" and again rejected the right of those who had suffered from the actions of Interior Ministries of North Ossetia and Russia to claim moral compensation.

"Today, the Court has again rejected our complaint, referring to the new law on counteracting terrorism," said Ella Kesaeva, leader of the "Voice of Beslan".

The new law stipulates that the culprits, i.e. terrorists, shall compensate moral harm to the victims.

Meanwhile, Ms Kesaeva remarks that the new law nothing to do with the Beslan victims, since the law was inexistent in September 2004.

The "Voice of Beslan" chairwoman said that over 100 victims were in the courtroom.

The claim was rejected on the ground that "militia had not committed the terror act, and should not be obliged to compensate the moral harm."

Ella Kesaeva also said that the deadline for consideration of such cases is 2 months, but "the authorities have failed to respect it."

The victims plan to appeal against this decision either, but now - to the Presidium (High Panel) of the Supreme Court of North Ossetia.