Donations received on special relieve accounts were not distributed among Kursk families. The Mother’s Right Foundation filed a complaint to Reutov (Moscow Region) town Magistrate about the special Commission of the North Fleet. (30 July 2002)
At first it was filed on behalf of 4 mothers and widows of Kursk marines, but as the case progressed, more and more joined and eventually the number of families represented by Mother’s Right reached 50.
1 July 2002: Donations received on special relieve accounts were not distributed among Kursk families. Moreover, the special Commission of the Northern Fleet announced that it postponed any payments until the first section of the submarine is lifted off the seabed – that is, at least for another six months.
The Northern Fleet decision to freeze the accounts is in violation of the current legislation, which states that public donations made for specific purposes have to be spent or distributed in the shortest time possible and strictly for the purpose they were made.
Veronika Marchenko of the Mother’s Right foundation says that the fact of filing a complaint was in itself enough for the defendant to radically change his position. In less then a week, the Chief Commander of the Northern Fleet told the press that he considers the Commissions actions “not correct” and “unfounded”.
The Northern Fleet representatives weren’t present at the first court hearing, but instead sent a letter, stating that all the obligations to the Kursk families were fulfilled. And to the even greater amazement of all the Kursk relatives
Just before the second hearing the Northern Fleet send a recall on a complaint, which legally means that it accepts its responsibility for unlawful delays with distribution of funds. Probably afraid that the case will become public, the same Commission that only two months ago decided to freeze accounts met again and ruled that all the funds should be distributed immediately and the accounts closed.
Mother’s right lawyer Anastasia Bakarasova, who represented families of Kursk marines, argued at the hearing that the second “positive” decision by the Committee has a legal meaning that the defendant accepts his responsibility and that the court should oblige it to make all the due payments in shortest time possible – in no more then 14 days.
The Court agreed with all her arguments and ruled to consider the freezing of funds unlawful and obliged the Commission to make all the payments within 10-day period.
