Ethnic gang warfare seen as cause of Ukhta deadly fire – Russian TV

NTV, Moscow
12 Jul 05

According to latest reports, the death toll in the shopping centre
fire in Ukhta has reached 24, the [Russian] Emergencies Ministry told
NTV.

Thursday, 14 July, has been declared a day of mourning in the Republic
of Komi.

The first funerals will take place soon. The authorities have promised
financial aid to the victims.

The fire was most probably caused by arson, police say. A criminal
investigation has been opened on charges of murder of two or more
people.

Two teenagers are the main suspects. Witnesses saw them hurling
containers filled with a flammable liquid under a staircase on the
ground floor.

Some investigators working on the case have told the Kommersant
newspaper that, I quote, authoritative businessmen [commonly used
euphemism for criminal bosses] of Slavic origin, unquote, may be
behind the fire. They have been dreaming for a long time of forcing
people from the Caucasus out of the city trade. The shop destroyed by
the fire belonged to a certain Vladimir Gevorkyan [an Armenian name].

An official from the Ukhta mayor’s office has suggested another
theory. He told the newspaper, I quote, there is no criminal, or,
moreover, ethnic dispute in the town’s business. There was no arson
either. The fire broke out accidentally, because of negligence,
unquote.