Yakutsk fire victim criticized over electronics
A woman from Yakutia who was affected by a fire was accused online of buying electronics with donations that concerned people had sent for repairs — namely a tablet, a smart speaker, a vacuum cleaner, and a microwave oven. Luiza Struchkova told a 14.RU correspondent that the items had been purchased in advance and were only delivered recently.
The fire occurred in an apartment building in the republic’s capital, Yakutsk (Sakha Republic, Russia), in early September. Specialists from the MChS (Ministry of Emergency Situations — EMERCOM) are still determining the cause; the review is scheduled to conclude on 26 September. Luiza and the building’s residents believe a discarded cigarette butt flew onto their balcony. We wrote about this earlier — here.
Concerned residents of the republic began helping the affected family however they could: with money, belongings, and care packages delivered to the hospital. Many people reposted calls to help the fire victims. Luiza posted a video on her Instagram (extremist organization, activity banned in Russia) reporting recent purchases. The footage shows a brand-new iPad, an ‘Alisa’ smart speaker, a television, a microwave oven, and other appliances. The clip has now been deleted.
This outraged people, who say the money was not spent on basic necessities.
«I sent them my last money, thinking they would spend it on repairs and the children’s treatment, but no!», «A tablet and appliances aren’t essentials — what about repairs and the children’s treatment?» — users wrote online.
Some messaged Luiza privately to ask why she chose to spend the collected funds on electronics. In response, she accused them of envy, advised them to “keep baking pies while on maternity leave,” and threatened to publish the identities of those who wrote to shame her.
«I’m facing this huge wave of hate and negativity for the first time; it’s very hard to read and discuss. For now, insurance hasn’t covered the repairs, because we still haven’t received the expert report. But yes, the apartment is insured. UK ‘Prometey’ (Upravlyayushchaya kompaniya ‘Prometey’, Prometey Management Company) helped us, allocating 109,000 rubles ($1,100 at current rates); residents helped with leftover renovation materials and things. I’m very glad that we have such caring neighbors. Everyone helped however they could», Luiza told a 14.RU correspondent.
As we reported earlier, the apartment is under a mortgage; it has standard insurance that applies only to the structural shell, while the windows, doors, all finishes, and everything inside the apartment are not insured.
According to her, the owners are doing the repairs themselves while juggling their jobs. Asked about the expensive appliances, Luiza replied that they had been bought in advance.
«We bought the appliances while I was still in the hospital; they were only delivered recently. Online we were portrayed as ungrateful, and I spoke out toward those who wrote to me negatively. They think I should have kept quiet», Luiza said.
Luiza’s children are feeling better; her daughter is already getting ready for kindergarten, but both the woman herself and her son still have no voice. With the remaining money, they plan to go to a sanatorium for treatment, but they have run into a problem: sanatoriums do not accept children under 4. In her view, she can resolve this with Minzdrav Yakutii (Ministry of Health of Yakutia).
