Almost 100 relatives of those who died in the Russian A321 airliner crash over Egypt's Sinai peninsula last October have filed a class action suit against the U.S. company that owned the plane and leased it to the Kogalymavia carrier company, the pro-Kremlin Izvestia newspaper reported Monday, citing Igor Trunov, a lawyer representing the relatives. The lawsuit was filed in a New York court.
According to the lawyers, the relatives of each victim are entitled to compensation of up to $1.5 million from the International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) which owned the plane. “We will also bring the company that insured the risks [of ILFC to justice],” Trunov was cited by Izvestia as saying.
The Russian Airbus A321 was downed over Egypt while en route to St. Petersburg — all 224 people on board were killed. Speculation on the cause of the crash began soon after the catastrophe, with international media, politicians and law enforcement agency representatives declaring the plane downing a terrorist act.
Two weeks after the crash, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) confirmed the plane was blown up by terrorists. In early December more than 30 crash relatives filed a formal complaint with Moscow's Basmanny Court, accusing Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin of failing to act.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
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 every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.