ST. PETERSBURG, October 26 - RAPSI. The Constitutional Court has found that residents living in cities in the Chernobyl radioactive contamination zone, who left and came back, are entitled to the same benefits as residents who have always lived there, according to the ruling published on the court's website on Friday.

The Constitutional Court examined the provisions of the federal law on the social protection of citizens exposed to radiation following the Chernobyl disaster. The complaint was submitted by Tatyana Chaplygina, who lived in Zheleznogorsk in the radioactive contamination zone.She left Zheleznogorsk in 1992, but decided to return in 2004.

After returning, she was unable to receive her monthly compensation stipulated by law, or her annual paid vacation. Chaplygina claimed that the law limits the number of individuals who are entitled to state support, which violates the constitutional principles of equity and justice.

The Constitutional Court found that the provision does not correspond with the Constitution and ordered the regulation of the law, so that citizens who lived in the area affected by the disaster and then left also have the right to compensation and a paid annual vacation after returning.