December 17, 2003 - 22:07 AMT
RACKETEER BLACKMAILING LOCAL ARMENIANS DETAINED IN KIROV
The officers of the security service have arrested a racketeer, who had been blackmailing Armenians residing in Kirov Russian city. As reported by "Rosbalt" agency, since July 2003 several Armenians have received anonymous letters and telephone calls of threatening nature. The unknown demanded to pay big sums of money - beginning from $400 thousand to $5 million. As a result of operative search measures the security officers arrested the blackmailer, who later admitted his guilt. When making the text of the letters the racketeer used phrases from a detective novel.