MOSCOW, October 28 (RAPSI) – Five out of more than twenty victims of the criminal gang, allegedly organised by former officers of the Interior Ministry’s Economic Security and Anti-Corruption Department, filed claims seeking up to 200 mln rubles ($4,7 mln) in damages, Kommersant newspaper reports on Tuesday.

The largest claim was filed by former department head of the Audit Chamber, Alexander Mikhailik. Mikhailik was accused of bribery based on materials provided by the Economic Security and Anti-Corruption Department. He now demands a 100 million ruble ($2,3 mln) compensation.

Other claimants include former Smolensk city manager Konstantin Lazarev with 50 million ruble ($1,2 mln) claim, with another Smolensk official Vitaly Yerofeev demanding 20 million rubles ($476,000). Another lawsuit for 20 million rubles was filed by former Triathlon Federation president and deputy transtport minister Sergei Bystrov, who was accused of fraud by the former anti-corruption policemen.

Former officers of the Ministry’s Economic Security and Anti-Corruption Department were charged with organizing a criminal enterprise and abuse of office, and civil claims were filed against all policemen arrested. However, according to the injuction issued by the Basmanny District Court of Moscow, only department’s former head Sugrobov and his late deputy Boris Kolesnikov assets were seized.

According to investigators,  police General Sugrobov and his deputy General Boris Kolesnikov tried to provoke an officer of the Federal Security Service (FSB) by offering $10,000 a month for his protection.

Kolesnikov was arrested in February. No charges had been filed against him when he jumped out of a window during questioning at the Investigative Committee in June. Later the Basmanny District Court said no evidence was found of assisted suicide.

In late August, Moscow’s Basmanny District Court seized assets owned by Sugrobov and Kolesnikov. The seized property has been reportedly estimated at over 300 million rubles (app. $8 million).