American family sues Moscow mayor in businessman's killing

(Phoenix-AP) -- Relatives of an Oklahoma businessman gunned down in Moscow in 1996 have filed a lawsuit accusing Moscow's mayor of protecting the killers and blocking the investigation. Paul Tatum

Wednesday, December 1st 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Phoenix-AP) -- Relatives of an Oklahoma businessman gunned down in Moscow in 1996 have filed a lawsuit accusing Moscow's mayor of protecting the killers and blocking the investigation. Paul Tatum of Edmond was managing a prominent Radisson hotel in central Moscow. Tatum's killing shocked the foreign business community.

Police have reported no breakthrough in the case of Tatum's death. The lawsuit by the Edmond man's relatives has been filed in Arizona. Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov is one of Russia's most influential politicians. Some Russian media and businesspeople have accused Luzhkov of corruption. The lawsuit is apparently the first time the Moscow mayor has been accused in such a serious crime.