Moscow, 9 January 2003 (RFE/RL) -- A lawyer representing nearly 50 Russians seeking compensation over the October hostage taking in Moscow says he has never-before-seen video footage of the dramatic theater siege. Igor Trunov said he will show the tapes, which he says were shot by the Chechen hostage-taking team, when a Moscow court hears the lawsuits next week.
Trunov today filed lawsuits against the city of Moscow on behalf of four more clients, bringing the total number of those seeking damages to 49. They include former hostages and relatives of those who died in the siege. They are suing for a total of almost $50 million.
The siege ended after Russian special forces stormed the building, killing the 41 hostage takers. At least 129 hostages died from the effects of a narcotic gas used to knock out the militants.
Trunov today filed lawsuits against the city of Moscow on behalf of four more clients, bringing the total number of those seeking damages to 49. They include former hostages and relatives of those who died in the siege. They are suing for a total of almost $50 million.
The siege ended after Russian special forces stormed the building, killing the 41 hostage takers. At least 129 hostages died from the effects of a narcotic gas used to knock out the militants.