Washington, D.C, District of Columbia Jan 12, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - Maryland Attorney Files Federal Lawsuit Alleging Terrorism-Related Claims Against Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Irans Revolutionary Guard/Quds Force
Maryland attorney John Flood and his law firm have filed a federal civil lawsuit on behalf of Kelsie Kimberlin and her family seeking damages related to the death of Andrii Rachok, who was killed on February 22, 2024, in Avdiivka, Ukraine.
The lawsuit, Kimberlin v. Russia, et al., No. 26-cv-00007, was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan.
According to the complaint, the defendants include the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea), and Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Quds Force (IRGC-QF). The plaintiffs allege that these defendants are responsible, directly or indirectly, for conduct that led to Rachoks death.
The nine-count complaint asserts claims under the federal Anti-Terrorism Act and Americas State Sponsor of Terrorism legal framework, as well as multiple state law tort claims, including wrongful death, intentional infliction of emotional distress, aiding and abetting, conspiracy, assault and battery, negligence, and gross negligence. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages as permitted by law.
Iran and North Korea are currently designated by the United States Department of State as State Sponsors of Terrorism, and the IRGC-Quds Force has been designated by the U.S. government as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. While Russia is not designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, the complaint alleges that Russia engaged in commercial and financial activities that, according to the plaintiffs, bring it within the scope of statutory exceptions that allow civil claims to proceed under U.S. law.
The lawsuit further alleges that the defendants provided material support, coordination, or assistance in connection with military and paramilitary activities that plaintiffs claim resulted in the killing of Andrii Rachok. The complaint characterizes the killing as a violation of international humanitarian law, including alleged grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and other laws applicable to armed conflict.
The plaintiffs also reference statutory provisions that, they contend, could permit the enforcement of any future judgment against certain frozen or blocked assets, subject to court approval and applicable law.
Civil actions brought under the Anti-Terrorism Act and related statutes have previously resulted in judgments against designated state sponsors of terrorism, with compensation paid in some cases through U.S. government-administered mechanisms. The outcome of the present litigation remains to be determined by the court.
A copy of the complaint is available at:
https://kelsiekimberlinfoundation.org/russian-lawsuit/
Source :Kelsie Kimberlin Foundation
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