Relatives of those killed in air crash over Black Sea demand $1 mln for every victim

The relatives of the Russian citizens who died in the air crash over the Black Sea in October 2001 are now claiming $1 mln for each victim in a suit against the Ukrainian authorities. The sum has been increased because the legal proceedings have been exceedingly drawn out, a RIA Novosti correspondent was told at the lawyers' company defending the interests of the Russian citizens in a Kiev court.

The Russian Tu-154 liner heading from Tel Aviv to Novosibirsk was shot down by a Ukrainian missile. It is explained in Kiev that everything occurred because of a mistake made during an exercise of the Ukrainian air defence force. 78 people died in the crash - 66 passengers, mostly Israeli citizens, and 12 Russian crewmen.

The respondents in the case are the Government, the Defence Ministry and the State Treasury of Ukraine.

The sums claimed as moral damage earlier amounted to about 280,000 dollars for every victim.

The next session of the court on this case will be held in September.