Only one Beslan victim has yet to receive ECHR-awarded payout - Justice Ministry
MOSCOW. Sept 3 (Interfax) - Russia has paid out practically the whole sum the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordered it to pay to the families and victims of the 2004 hostage siege in Beslan, North Ossetia, the Russian Justice Ministry said.
"Compensations have been paid to all applicants except one; her successors have still not filed necessary documents," the ministry's press service said.
A group of militants seized School No. 1 in Beslan on September 1, 2004. Over 1,200 people, including school students, their parents, and teachers, were taken hostage. They were held in the school gym which was stuffed with explosives and held without food and water over three days. As many as 334 people, including 186 children, died in the standoff and ensuing operation to free the hostages, and 126 people, including 70 children, suffered disabling injuries.
In 2017, the ECHR compelled Russia to pay a total of 2.955 million euros to the plaintiffs. Among the 409 plaintiffs were both hostages and injured, and relatives of hostages and of the injured, and of the dead.