Russia - Crime Increases In Russia

T/I: 10:09:09 FE 10:00:00 One of the world’s most powerful mafias -- contract killings of politicians, businessmen, journalists -- corruption -- rampant street crime -- a growing drug market -- weapons on every corner. The Interior Minister is now concentrating on two main fronts: street crime, especially drug trafficking, and contract killings of major political figures and businessmen. In 1995, 59 contract killings of major figures have been registered. Alexander Orlov, a successful manager and the new president of the Roundtable of Business, whose members are some of the most powerful businessmen in Russia, explained that five of his colleagues were killed this year, among them the former president of the Roundtable, the well-known bank manager Ivan Kivilidi. Criminal gangs from the Caucasus and Central Asia are suspected of controlling the trade in drugs. Over the past month, the Russian OMON, or special forces, have carried out raids on Azeri produce markets in Moscow nearl