Family to seek compensation for swimmer's death in Bosporus

Relatives of the Russian swimmer Nikolai Sveshnikov, who died in Turkey, will seek compensation for loss of breadwinner, said the family«s lawyer Alperen Chakmak in a conversation with MSK1.RU. On the night of January 21, DNA testing confirmed the death of the athlete, who disappeared five months ago during a swim in the Bosporus.

According to Chakmak, after all procedures are completed, Sveshnikov«s body will be handed over to the family; in the coming days, the parents together with the consulate will organize the transportation of the body to his homeland.

«We continue to work on this case, only it will be reclassified,» family lawyer Alperen Chakmak told MSK1.RU. «The missing person case will be closed, and if violations by the organizer are identified, that will be a criminal case. Also, after this, the mother, father, wife, and child are left without a breadwinner, in a difficult situation. Therefore, we will pursue a case for compensation payment.»

In Moscow, the deceased athlete left behind a wife and a small child; on December 10, Nikolai Sveshnikov«s son turned one year old. The wife was informed of the death news by phone. Judging by the voice from the receiver, she took the news steadfastly, a MSK1.RU correspondent reported.

Nikolai Sveshnikov«s body was found the day before; his parents urgently arrived in Istanbul this afternoon. They were going for identification, but were not allowed to see the body, and only genetic material was taken for DNA testing. After a few hours, a positive result came.

The swimmer«s family had already been offered to issue a death certificate for a close relative, but the relatives refused, believing that Nikolai would be found. Earlier, the athlete»s mother Galina detailed told MSK1.RU about her son and that ill-fated day.