MOSCOW, September 18 (RIA Novosti) - A lawyer representing survivors of a Moscow water park's collapse in 2004 on Monday filed a formal protest against amnesty for the architect at the center of the tragedy.
The roof of the Transvaal Park, in southern Moscow, caved in on February 14, 2004, leaving 28 people dead and more than 100 injured. Moscow prosecutors have said architect Nodar Kancheli's design was to blame for the accident, but he was freed from facing charges two weeks ago, under the terms of a parliamentary amnesty.
"I have lodged a complaint with Moscow's Zamoskvoretsky court, in which I am asking to invalidate the city prosecutor's [September 5] amnesty for Kancheli - a co-defendant in the case," lawyer Igor Trunov said.
The threat of civil action also hangs over the architect and the prosecutors did little to dispel the notion that lawsuits could be launched after the amnesty, which was granted in connection with the 100th anniversary of the first parliament in Russia.
Deputy Prosecutor Vladimir Yugin said September 6, "Every person who considers that he suffered [from the Transvaal tragedy] has a right to seek compensation in court, as Kancheli is absolutely guilty."
The architect, who maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, was also questioned when another building erected to his designs - Moscow's Basmanny market - collapsed in February, killing at least 60 people.
