THE HEAD OF THE STATE COUNCIL OF CHECHNYA KEEPS DECLARING THAT THE EXPLOSION IN MOSCOW SUBWAY WAS ORGANIZED BY AN ARMENIAN CRIMINAL GROUP

PanARMENIAN.Net - 24.08.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. Malik Saidullayev, the head of the Chechnian State Council who declared on August 23 that the explosion in the pedestrian subway on Pushkin square in Moscow, the victims of which became 12 people, is the result of a "strife" inside an "Armenian" criminal group, continues to stand on his version.

In the interview to the Moscow paper "Segodnya" Saidullayev declared today that the "Armenian" group controls 100-150 underground passages with trade booths in Moscow. According to him, all these trading points pay about half million dollars to the "Armenian" group each month.

Among those booths are drug-stores, which have the permission to sell drug-containing matters. Besides, drugs are sold illegally in such booths and in the subway on Pushkin square more than 60 per cent of illegal drug circulation was concentrated. We found out that one such drug booth refused to pay to the "Armenian group" and the latter decided to scare off the traders", said Saidullayev.

"Segodnya" turned to the employees of the Chief Department on Struggle with Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia to comment on Saidullayev's statements. According to them, Saidullayev's version doesn't have enough grounds. In their opinion, the highly profitable and stable business of the "Armenian" organized criminal group doesn't need such "strives". -0-