The Neva District Court in St. Petersburg has awarded compensation for moral damages and imposed a fine on Rossiya Airlines after a dog broke through a carrier in the cargo compartment and killed a cat. This information is reported by TASS, citing data from the united press service of the city’s courts.
“The Neva District Court of the city of St. Petersburg considered the lawsuit of Viktor Mitichkin against Rossiya Airlines filed under the Consumer Protection Law. The court partially satisfied the claim, awarding Rossiya Airlines 11,700 rubles for material damage, 50,000 rubles for moral harm, and a fine of 30,850 rubles. The court also awarded legal costs proportionally to the satisfied claims,” the statement says.
According to the lawsuit, on December 20, 2022, Mitichkin flew from St. Petersburg to Kaliningrad with three cats: Amanda, Lada, and Carmen. The flight was operated by Rossiya Airlines. Amanda and Lada were traveling in the cargo compartment in special carriers, while Carmen was in the cabin. The cost of transporting the animals was 10.8 thousand rubles.
After the flight, Mitichkin was informed that Amanda had died from injuries inflicted by a Jack Russell Terrier, also traveling in the cargo compartment. The dog, weighing about 10 kg, broke through the carrier, killed the cat, and got stuck, unable to free itself from the carrier with the deceased animal. Lada’s carrier was also damaged. The plaintiff claimed the dog was transported without a muzzle, cage, or appropriate protective nets.
Mitichkin stated that the negligent attitude of the airline’s staff resulted in material and moral damage. He requested the court award material damages of 667.5 thousand rubles (including the cat’s care for five years), moral damages of 800 thousand rubles, legal costs, and insurance.
