MOSCOW, February 16 - RAPSI, Vladimir Yaduta. Former Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko has not fulfilled the U.S. court's orders in his lawsuit against Prosecutor General Viktor Pshonka. The court is waiting for an explanation.
Lutsenko, who has been charged with abuse of power, submitted a lawsuit against Pshonka and several of his subordinates to the District Court for the District of Columbia in December.
Lutsenko alleges that his prosecution is politically motivated and claims moral damages without mentioning the amount. He referred to the Alien Tort Statute, which grants aliens the right to seek recourse and judicial relief in U.S. courts for violations of international law committed abroad.
Lutsenko accused the defendants of breaching the inviolability of his person through his arbitrary arrest and unreasonably prolonged detention. He also accused them of inhumane treatment.
The District Court for the District of Columbia obligated Lutsenko and his representatives to inform the court as to how the defendants have been notified of the case. The report was supposed to be submitted on February 8, but never was.
If the plaintiff does not fulfill the court's orders, his application can be dismissed.
Nevertheless, the court decided to give the former minister a last chance. He must inform the court no later than February 22 of his progress in notifying the defendants in the lawsuit.
Lutsenko was arrested in late 2010. The court has dismissed all his appeals. Lutsenko was accused of employing his personal driver at the ministry and providing him with an apartment and a pension. He is also blamed for overspending on Police Day celebrations.
Investigators estimate the damages inflicted by Lutsenko against the state at 1 million gryvnias ($125,000).