Czechs from Carpathian Ruthenia likely to receive compensation

Czech citizens from Carpathian Ruthenia may be eligible to receive compensation for property they lost in 1945, after the Czech lower house passed the respective bill in its second reading on Wednesday, sending it to a final vote. According to the bill Czechs who lost their property when Carpathian Ruthenia was annexed to the Soviet Union in 1945 would be able to receive up to two million crowns each in compensation if they can prove their ownership rights. Around 400 people are expected to stake a claim which would cost the state budget 800 million crowns at the most. If the bill is passed compensation payments would be made as of 2010.