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New Compensation Plans for Victims of Russia's 1993 Crisis

Vladimir Filonov / MT

The victims of Russia's violent 1993 constitutional crisis could be set to receive compensation.

More than 600 people could benefit from financial aid under a new bill submitted to Russia's State Duma by Communist politician Sergei Shargunov.

Shargunov has maintained that the proposals would not need additional funds from the federal budget.

This little civil war in the center of Moscow is the key to our country's modern history,” he wrote on the Communist party website, “but it's still somewhat of a taboo topic.”

Russia's 1993 constitutional crisis erupted on Sept. 21, 1993, when President Boris Yeltsin stepped outside of his legally-recognized power and tried to dissolve the country's parliament: the Congress of People's Deputies and the Supreme Soviet. Politicians declared his actions to be void and attempted to impeach him, triggering a political stand-off.

The ten-day ordeal was ultimately resolved in Yeltsin's favor via military force.

Government estimates state that 187 people were killed, with 437 wounded. Other estimates put the death toll as high as 2,000.


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