Court Rules in Favor of Woman Denied Affected by Nuclear Testing Status

A resident of Glubokoe village in East Kazakhstan region successfully challenged a government agency’s refusal to recognize her as a victim of nuclear testing, Orda.kz reports.

According to the Supreme Court, under existing law, individuals who lived near the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site from 1966 through the early 1990s are eligible for an official status, entitling them to certain benefits and compensation.

The plaintiff applied for certification but was denied because she lacked sufficient supporting documents. In response, she brought the case to court, submitting official certificates and witness statements confirming her birth and residence in the radiation-affected zone.

Her sister and brother also testified, saying she lived with their family near the test site until she was placed in an orphanage.

The court deemed the evidence credible and ruled in her favor, recognizing that she had resided in the affected area for eight months in 1990.

The decision has not yet entered into legal force.

Original Author: Anastasia Prilepskaya