Victim of police officer shooting spree sues Moscow authorities

MOSCOW, May 25 (RIA Novosti) - A man who was injured when an off-duty police officer opened fire at random in a supermarket in the Russian capital has brought a damages claim against the Moscow authorities, his lawyer said on Friday.

On April 27, Denis Yevsyukov, 32, then district head of the Tsaritsino police department in southern Moscow, took a taxi to a local supermarket. He first shot the driver dead, before walking into the store and killing two more people. Six people were also wounded in the attack.

"We lodged a compensation claim at Moscow's Nagatinsky Court," Igor Trunov said.

The $160,000 suit was filed by 18-year-old Ilya Gerasimenko.

Gerasimenko, who was wounded in the head and stomach in the shooting, is currently undergoing facial surgery. He also faces another operation to try to remove a bullet lodged near his heart.

Trunov could also defend the interests of the five other victims of the shooting spree, who are currently collecting all the necessary documents to file for damages.

Yevsyukov, who is currently in custody and awaiting trial, may be called to testify during the hearings.

The lawyer said that the suit was filed against the Moscow city government and the Russian Interior Ministry as a third party. Under Russian laws, the Moscow government is obliged to pay for damages inflicted by a state employee in the capital.

The Moscow authorities, however, are refusing to pay damages, claiming that the Interior Ministry should bear responsibility for their officers' actions.

The Interior Ministry has already paid out compensation to the families of those killed in the attack.

On April 28, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev dismissed the chief of the Moscow police, Col.-Gen. Vladimir Pronin, in connection with the shooting spree.