Compensation Claims of Nord Ost Hostages Heard in Moscow Courts

Preliminary inquiries into 24 compensation claims of former hostages and relatives of the hostages who deceased as a result of the terrorist act in a Moscow theatre last October were heard at the municipal court in Moscow today. As a Rosbalt correspondent reports, the attorney for the hostages Igor Trunov told journalists that the court had accepted another 12 compensation claims from victims and that there is now a total of 61 claims which are together worth about USD 60 million. Preliminary inquiries into these last 12 claims will be heard on January 23. The lawyer added that he does not plan to use the video cassette yet that was filmed during the hostage taking. 'It is still too early to talk about the cassette,' Mr Trunov said.

From 23 to 26 October 2002 over 700 people were held hostage in a Moscow theatre. 129 people were killed as a result of the terrorist act.