FOUR MURDERS OF ARMENIAN CITIZENS COMMITTED IN MOSCOW AND ITS REGION

Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 28 2006

YEREVAN, June 28. /ARKA – RIA Novosty/. Four murders of Armenian
citizens committed in Moscow and Moscow region in the 1st quarter
2006, and the two of them are detected, Head of Russian Ministry of
Internal Affairs Rashid Nurgaliev reported during a press conference.

The minister pointed out that the specific part of the crimes against
Armenian citizens in Russia is committed by their fellow countrymen.

"For instance, in January 2005 in Moscow, $300,000 was blackmailed
for abduction of Armenian citizen Varlanyan; however, the criminal
group consisting of four people that also included Armenian citizens
was arrested," Nurgaliev said.

He also pointed out that the number of crimes committed by Armenian
citizens considerably exceeds the number of crimes against them. In
particular, the minister referred to the statistical data, according
to which Armenian citizens committed 2,496 crimes, 501 – against them,
and in 2005 this figure totaled 2,940 and 593, respectively.

According to the minister, during the first quarter of the current
year the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia points out reduction
of crimes, whose victims were Armenian citizens.

"During this period, 112 crimes were committed against Armenian
citizens, 11.1% less against the corresponding period of last year,"
the minister said. He pointed out that "the overwhelming majority of
crimes, related to Armenian citizens is of mercenary character".

In particular, during the 1st quarter 2006 they committed 552 crimes,
including: over 100, related to making and sales of false documents,
26 – illegal sales of drugs, 82 thefts, 40 robberies, 19 frauds, 16 –
hold-ups, 11 – heavy physical trespass, 3 – murders and 3 cases of
gangsterism.
From: Baghdasarian