Crimean law enforcement authorities believe they are close to finally
solving the mysteries of sensational killings in recent years (e.g., Crimean
Minister of Tourism Dmitri Goldich; Valery Kuzin, director of the Krymteplokomunenerho
joint stock company; Crimean Vice Premier Aleksandr Safrantsev, and Aleksei
Golovizin, head of the Autonomous Republic's State Property Fund).
All these crimes are believed to have been committed by a gang detected
and neutralized by the Crimean Prosecutor's Office and militia. The gang
was made up of 23 local residents and specialized in contract murder, armed
assault, and extortion. When arrested, 2 submachine guns, 4 pistols, explosives,
and ammunition were found and confiscated.
While the Crimean militia were busy hunting down professional killers,
a 22-year-old drug addict named Kovaliev, with a long criminal record,
attacked a woman resident of Krasnoperekopsk and, threatening her with
a knife, took her hostage at 3:10 p.m., October 26. He locked himself and
the woman in her apartment and demanded a submachine gun, a car, a bulletproof
vest, and free exit from the Crimea. A special unit of the Autonomous Republic's
Chief Directorate of the Interior Ministry broke into the apartment, releasing
the hostage and arresting the criminal. No casualties were reported.






