Greetings,

Sönke Henning Tappe

Another Armenian Citizen Killed in Moscow
23.11.2006 12:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Pursuit of a car with put out headlights in Moscow ended in death of one person, a second corps was discovered in the car that was fleeing away from the police. The Timiryazev inter-regional Prosecutor’s Office has filed a criminal case on the fact of murder of Armenian citizen, whose corpse was discovered in the car on Dmitrovskoye highway on the night of Thursday. According to the investigation data, at about 2 a.m. motorway patrol service was trying to stop the Opel car in the north of the capital. The driver did not obey to police order and tries to flee. As a result Opel car ran into a car, the driver of which died from injuries on the spot. Then the haunted car run into a manifold and also stopped. The driver ran out of the car and managed to hide from police officers. A corps of a stabbed man was found in the car – the owner of the Opel car Armenian citizen Ashot Isakhanyan born in 1977 and registered in Moscow region, reports Interfax. Timiryazev inter-regional Prosecutor’s Office has filed a criminal case on part 1 of article 105 (murder) and part 2 of article 264 (braking the rule of the road resulting in human casualty) of the Russian Criminal Code.

Cases on Blast at Cherkizov Market and Abrahamyants Murder Unified
24.11.2006 18:36 GMT+04:00 P

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Moscow Prosecutor Office unified the cases on blast at Cherkizov Market and the murder of Armenian student Vigen Abrahamyants, who was killed at a subway station April 22. “The cases were unified because the prosecutors have charged the same three suspects on both crimes. All three are students at Moscow universities,” said lawyer Simon Tsaturian.

Explosion in Market and Armenian Student Murder Investigated Separately
25.11.2006 13:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Criminal cases on explosion in Cherkizov market and murder of student Vigen Abrahamyants, 17 have been and are being investigated in two different sections, stated a Prosecutor’s Office representative. In his words, Moscow Prosecutor’s Office is engaged in investigation of the explosion in the market, while the metro Prosecutor’s Office deals with the case of the murder.

It was earlier stated that the two cases are united. Lawyer Simon Tsaturyan, who represents interests of the victim’s family had stated it. When touching upon investigation of these two cases, the Moscow Prosecutor’s Office representative said, “We do not give comments at the current phase of investigation,” reports Vesti.

11 people – mostly foreign citizens – died resulting from the explosion in Cherkizov market August 21. Three Moscow students are arrested on the case. At the same time the 17-year-old freshman of the Moscow Management University was slaughtered April 22 on the platform of Pushkinskaya metro station.

‘State racism’ as Russia bans foreigners from jobs

The Russian government has been accused of state-sponsored racism after it approved laws banning non-Russians from several key sectors of the economy.

From January, foreigners will not be allowed to sell alcohol or medicine, and from April they will be banned from working in the retail sector.

The ban extends to Russia’s indoor and outdoor food and clothing markets, as well as to thousands of roadside kiosks selling anything from newspapers to cosmetics. The jobs affected are typically low paid and are often done by immigrants from the former Soviet republics such as Tajikistan, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Nobody knows precisely how many people will be forced out of work, but the figure is estimated to be at least one million people.

Mikhail Fradkov, the Prime Minister, said the ban was needed to protect the rights of ethnic Russians who have complained of being squeezed out of the retail sector by immigrants.

President Vladimir Putin has hailed the new measures as “a correct decision”, arguing that Russia is not suffering from a labour shortage in the retail sector so does not need to rely on foreign workers.

With crunch parliamentary elections looming next year, the Kremlin is also keen to be seen to be in touch with popular sentiment. The new laws follow controversial comments from the deputy head of the Russian Migration Service. Vyacheslav Postavnin was quoted yesterday as saying that it was a good idea to keep the numbers of non-Russians in any given region below 20 per cent of the overall population. “If the norm is exceeded, it will make the indigenous population feel uncomfortable. As a rule people who come to such districts do not assimilate. They begin living by their own rules,” he said.

Activists are warning that nationalism is on the march and accuse the state of pandering to racists. Sova, an organisation that monitors racist violence, says there have been 39 racist murders this year so far and 300 attacks. The Independent

Book Titled “Armenia, Armenia…” Published for Moscow Police

21.11.2006 14:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Russian Association of Friendship and Cooperation with Armenia is taking part in the organization of the Year of Armenia in Russia, program titled “Moscow multinational: formation of civil solidarity, peace culture and consent” and other projects, the press service of the Russian Association of Friendship and Cooperation with Armenia told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

The Association jointly with the Petrovka, 38 foundation issued a book titled “Armenia, Armenia… Questions and answers about the country and people since ancient times up to present days” as a gift for the Moscow police. The book will help to make the friendship with the Armenian people stronger and more fruitful,” said Victor Krivopuskov, the Association President.

The book contains 201 answers to the questions Russian citizens may have when hearing about Armenia. Besides, it provides information about Armenian traditions, famous Armenian brandy and even anecdotes from the Armenian Radio. One chapter is dedicated to the Armenian-Russian relations.

The book comes appropriate in the atmosphere of dislike towards ‘aliens’ and frequent killings through national hatred.