ROME, January 27 (Itar-Tass) —— Compensations to many Russian passengers of the sunken cruise liner Costa Concordia will be settled individually, lawyer Tatiana della Marra who represents the interests of the Russian tourists told Itar-Tass on Friday.
She said she knew nothing about the allegedly set amount of compensations at 11,000 euros. Unified compensations would be impermissible, and it is necessary to evaluate the damage done to each passenger individually, she said.
“I have received applications from 36 Russians, and their number will grow. The final sum of the compensation has not been set, while we are collecting documentary evidence to the damage. Some needed therapy, while many had a psychological trauma,” the lawyer said.
In addition, the Russians and other passengers of the Costa Concordia are aggrieved parties at the trial of the Costa Concordia captain, the lawyer said. The court will set the amount of a fine for moral and material damage. In the end, the tourists will be paid two compensations. One will be ordered upon the end of the trial of the Costa Concordia captain charged with negligence, damage, shipwreck and unpremeditated murder. The other compensation will be paid by the sunken ship’s operator, Costa Crociere.
The payment of compensations to Russian citizens harmed by the Costa Concordia shipwreck will be discussed individually, according to Russian Union of Travel Industry press secretary Irina Tyurina.
“Costa Cruises, which owned the sunken liner, declared its readiness to provide comprehensive assistance, including financial aid, to the tourists. The company is closely cooperating with tour operators and seeking contact with the tourists in order to discuss the compensation of damage individually,” she said.
She also noted that the company would assign 93 million euros for compensations to the Costa Concordia tourists.
According to the Russian Union of Travel Industry, the Costa Concordia, which wrecked off shore Italy on January 13, had 108 Russian tourists and three Russian crewmembers onboard.
Meanwhile, Italian consumer associations said that Costa Conciere had agreed on paying 11,000 euros to the passengers regardless of their age in compensation for the lost luggage and moral damage. The company already covered the accommodation expenditures of the tourists after the Costa Concordia wreck and their transportation home. Also, the payment of refunds for the unfortunate cruise has begun. The company said it would return personal belongings of tourists from the ship safe boxes if that was possible.