Support The Moscow Times!

Families of Victims of Omsk Barracks Collapse to Receive $7,000 in Compensation

Relatives mourn next to coffins of troops killed after collapse of a section of a barrack during funeral ceremony in Omsk, Russia, July 14, 2015.

The families of conscription soldiers who were killed in the collapse of recently-renovated military barracks in the Siberian city of Omsk will receive 400,000 rubles ($7,000) each in compensation, the regional administration said in a statement Thursday.

The 19 survivors who sustained injuries from the incident will get 300,000 rubles ($5,264) from the government, the statement said.

President Vladimir Putin ordered Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to provide individual support to each of the victim's families, and to assist in the investigation of the incident, Gazeta.ru reported Thursday.

The four-story building collapsed Sunday evening with 337 soldiers inside.

The local branch of the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case into negligence, the violation of safety standards and abuse of power.

The case is now being investigated by the agency's federal headquarters in Moscow.

Oleg Ponomaryov, head of the paratrooper unit residing in the collapsed building, was detained on Monday. He had admitted responsibility for allowing the troops to settle in the barracks, investigators said.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more