FOUR YEARS AFTER NIAMIHA TRAGEDY FAMILIES OF ITS VICTIMS DEPRIVED OF PRIVILEGES
On May 30, 1999 fifty two people died in the jam in Niamiha metro station. Most of them were 13-22 year-old females. The 53rd victim, Siarhei Saladkevich, 19, died in hospital.
Less than four years after the tragedy, the families of the perished got deprived of their privileges. Natalia Novakowskaya, head of “Niamiha-99” social aid center, told Human Rights Center "Viasna", “For the period of three years we enjoyed privileges – free rides in public transport, free medications and public utilities. But this year the president ruled to put an end to it. He cancelled privileges for many groups, including us. We have a disastrous situation literally in everything. And once again we saw how the authorities treat us,” – stated Natalia Novakowskaya.
As you remember, on May 30, 1999 in Minsk 53 were crushed to death and 250 got injured as a result of a bloody stampede in “Nemiga” subway underpass. Attempts of the relatives of the killed ones to bring to accountability then city mayor Vladimir Ermoshin and police officials turned out futile. Nor did the families of the victims manage to get compensation from the state.
