To: odin@gate.net
Subject:
Subject: RUSSIA/CRIME (L) By ELIZABETH ARROTT/ MOSCOW
DATE=6/7/94
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA/CRIME (L)
BYLINE= ELIZABETH ARROTT
DATELINE= MOSCOW
INTRO: THE RUSSIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY SAYS THE TRADE IN ILLEGAL
WEAPONS IS ON A DRAMATIC RISE. V-O-A'S ELIZABETH ARROTT IN
MOSCOW REPORTS ON GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO CHECK THE ILLICIT ARMS
TRADE.
TEXT: INTERIOR MINISTRY OFFICIALS DESCRIBE RUSSIA AS AWASH WITH
ILLEGAL MACHINE GUNS, PISTOLS AND GRENADE LAUNCHERS -- SOME 150
THOUSAND CONTRABAND WEAPONS IN ALL.
SECURITY OFFICIALS, SPEAKING TO REPORTERS IN MOSCOW, SAY THE
WEAPONS HAVE MADE THEIR WAY TO RUSSIA'S CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD
THROUGH VARIOUS CHANNELS, INCLUDING POORLY-SECURED ARMS DEPOTS.
THEY SAY CRIMINALS HAVE RAIDED OR BRIBED THEIR WAY INTO THE ARMS
DUMPS DURING THE RUSSIAN MILITARY'S HASTY WITHDRAWAL FROM FOREIGN
COUNTRIES.
THE AUTHORITIES SAY THE RUSSIAN MAFIA ALSO ENGAGES IN TRADE WITH
WARRING PARTIES IN NEARBY COMBAT ZONES, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE
CAUCASUS NATIONS AND CENTRAL ASIA. THE OFFICIALS ALSO ACCUSE
GANGS IN THE BALTIC REPUBLICS OF SELLING ILLEGAL CHINESE-MADE
WEAPONS TO RUSSIAN CRIMINALS.
THE INTERIOR MINISTRY ALSO BLAMES A RISE IN CRIME ON THE ECONOMIC
CRISIS BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION AND THE
INTRODUCTION OF MARKET REFORMS. OFFICIALS SAY ONE-FIFTH OF THE
ARMS THEY HAVE CONFISCATED HAVE BEEN MADE BY LAID-OFF DEFENSE
EMPLOYEES WORKING AT HOME.
WHILE THE STATISTICS MAY BE NEW, THE RISE IN CRIME HAS BEEN NOTED
BY RUSSIANS WEARY OF NEAR-DAILY REPORTS OF CAR BOMBINGS, GANGLAND
GUN BATTLES, AND MAFIA-STYLE CONTRACT KILLINGS.
INTERIOR MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL STEP UP EFFORTS BOTH TO
CONFISCATE ILLEGAL WEAPONS AND TO STOP THEIR FALLING INTO
CRIMINAL HANDS IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY ARE CALLING FOR TOUGHER
LAWS AGAINST ARMS TRAFFICKERS, NOTING THAT THE SAME SOVIET-ERA
PUNISHMENT OF FIVE YEARS IN PRISON APPLIES EQUALLY TO SOMEONE WHO
HAS ONE PISTOL OR AN ENTIRE ILLEGAL ARSENAL.
THE OFFICIALS SAY THE GOVERNMENT MUST BUILD LARGER, MORE SECURE
ARMS DEPOTS. THEY ADD INTERIOR MINISTRY TROOPS WILL BEGIN
GUARDING ALL WEAPONS FACTORIES.
ONE SECURITY OFFICIAL SAYS IT IS NOW SO EASY TO GET GUNS, HE IS
SURPRISED THE SITUATION IS NOT WORSE. HE SAYS, MILLIONS OF
WEAPONS WOULD HAVE BEEN STOLEN BY NOW, IF ONLY THE CRIMINALS WERE
SMARTER. (SIGNED)
NEB/EA/MH/MMK
07-Jun-94 11:00 AM EDT (1500 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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