13 février 2007
Biometric Passports Failed
Just as Kommersant predicted, the process of introducing biometric passports in Russia went into a skid. The Federal Migration Service (FMS) said yesterday that the equipment for recording personal data of a passport’s holder, supplied by Voskhod enterprise, turned out to be unreliable and is breaking all the time. Due to these problems, the beginning of mass issuing of new passports in St. Petersburg is postponed for indefinite time.
Head of FMS in St. Petersburg and Leningrad region Yuri Buryak spoke of difficulties that suddenly appeared when using Voskhod-produced equipment for making biometric passports.
Voskhod, however, claims that FMS employees simply do not have the skills of using the new equipment. Russian government planned to begin mass issuing of biometric passports already in 2007. Yet, only Kaliningrad and Kaliningrad region, Moscow, St. Petersburg and Leningrad region have the necessary equipment so far, according to Voskhod.
Experts believe that biometric documents system will begin working no earlier than in 2010 in Russia. They add it is necessary to allow commercial companies experienced in building large-scale IT-systems to participate in developing the project. Apparently, Voskhod is failing this task.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Feb. 01, 2007
Moscow Creates Anti-Terrorism Watchdog
Complex security department might appear at Moscow’s government. It will control all anti-terrorism services of the city, and will deal with “military management” during emergency situations, supervising the media, meetings and mass public events. The new department’s budget has not been approved by Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov. However, prefectures and municipal councils are already forming anti-terrorism divisions.
The idea of a more thorough anti-terrorism control became relevant after Nikolai Patrushev, head of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, announced on January 17 there is threat of terrorist acts in Moscow’s subway and surface transport.
The new department is to carry out all activities for maintaining security. It will include six subdivisions, and its main function will be to coordinate anti-terrorism actions. One of the first tasks for the new department can be making the population familiar with “The recommendations to citizens on actions in case of terrorist act threat”.
Meanwhile, the new department is already being created. Moscow Mayor Luzhkov will soon sign the order for organizing anti-terrorism departments in Moscow’s prefectures and municipal councils. At least 30 openings will be created in prefectures, and no less than 3 employees should be invited to anti-terrorism work in municipal councils.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Feb. 13, 2007
04 juillet 2006
Les services spéciaux du FSB peuvent être envoyés hors de la Russie
La douma d'Etat a décidé de donnet carte blanche au president pour qui'il "by passe" le Conseil de la fédération dans sa prise de décision concernant l’envoi des services secrets de lutte contre les terroristes en dehors de la Russie.
Les corrections correspondantes de la loi "Sur le service Fédéral de la sécurité" seront examinées cette semaine. Après leur acceptation le chef de l'Etat pourra envoyer à l'étranger les services spéciaux du FSB sans accord du Conseil de la fédération : en effet, la Constitution de la Fédération de Russie prévoit une telle décision seulement en cas d'utilisation à l'étranger des Forces armées, c'est-à-dire les devisions de MinOborony.
30 juin 2006
Information on Russian diplomats murderers priced $10mln
National anti-terror committee of the Russian Federation will pay a $10mln reward for information on the murderers of Russian diplomats in Iraq. Head of the Federal Security Service of Russia Nikolai Patrushev announced the decision on June 30 after a meeting of the President Vladimir Putin with SC permanent members in Kremlin. Patrushev also said that it is the national anti-terror committee that will coordinate the work of the Russian security on carrying out the Presidents’ order related to the slaughter of employees of the Russian embassy to Iraq.
As REGNUM reported earlier, the President of the Russian Federation instructed the national security to find and exterminate the assassins of the Russian diplomats. Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially confirmed the death of the embassy employees taken hostage in Iraq. The killing was committed on June 27.
The diplomats were taken hostage on June 3 in Baghdad. One embassy employee was killed during the attack. Third secretary of the embassy Fyodor Zaitsev, embassy employees Anatoliy Smirnov, Rinat Agliulin, and Oleg Fedoseyev were kidnapped. An al Qaeda-linked group took responsibility for the kidnapping. They demanded from Moscow to withdraw troops from Chechnya and release Muslim convicts serving sentences of imprisonment in Russia.
22 juin 2006
Director of Samara market, his bodyguard injured in blast
SAMARA, June 20 (Itar-Tass) - - Director of the Troitsky market of Samara and his bodyguard got injuries in an explosion at this trade enterprise, learnt at the region’s law enforcement bodies.
According to law enforcers, an explosive device went off at the stair-well at 10.34 Moscow time on Tuesday. It was planted in a lighting plafond. “As a result, the market director and his bodyguard, who were climbing the staircase, got glass fragmentation injuries. The bodyguard was taken to a hospital. The very explosive device was of low power”.
According to the preliminary information of law enforcers, the incident was of criminal character. “The blast was aimed to attempt upon somebody’s life or intimidate certain persons related to the given market,” the interlocutor said.
This is the second blast at the Troitsky market. In May 2003, several people were also injured here. Then, like today, the explosion went off at the moment when the market director and his bodyguards were climbing the staircase.
A team of operatives is working at the site of the incident
19 juin 2006
Jeweler to music's stars arrested on U.S. charges
Friday, June 16, 2006
NEW YORK -- The jeweler known for putting diamonds on celebrities from Kanye West to Sir Elton John was arrested Thursday in connection with a multi-state drug and money laundering ring.
Yakov Arabov, known throughout the hip-hop world as Jacob Arabo or "Jacob the Jeweler," was arrested on money-laundering charges.
Arabov, who appeared briefly in U.S. District Court in Manhattan after his arrest, did not wan to comment, said his lawyer, Daniel Gotlin. "It's been a difficult enough day for what they did to him," Gotlin said, declining to comment further. Bail was set for Arabov at $100,000, which the Russian immigrant paid immediately.
Arabov, 41, who first came to fame in the mid-1990s as hip-hop and R&B artists started sporting his gem-encrusted pieces -- was arrested at 8:30 a.m. on a warrant issued in Detroit by federal authorities.
The authorities have charged him with conspiring with others to launder money in connection with a jewelry business.
Drug Enforcement Administration spokeswoman Erin Mulvey said the arrest occurred at Arabov's midtown Manhattan store.
Paul Wilmot, a spokesman for Jacob & Co., said the arrest was "the result of an unfortunate misunderstanding that we believe will be straightened out in the next several weeks."
He added, "We are confident that once the government is advised of all the facts surrounding these issues that all of the charges against Mr. Arabov will be completely dismissed."
Arabov was identified along with the alias, "Jacob the Jeweler," in an indictment charging some of 16 people with breaking federal drug laws, including conspiracy to distribute more than 476 kilograms of cocaine and laundering $270 million, Detroit U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Murphy announced Thursday.
Federal authorities say those indicted are connected to a drug organization called the "Black Mafia Family."
The gang dealt cocaine in the Detroit metropolitan area beginning in the early 1990s, extending across the country.
Between October 1997 and June 2005, authorities said they seized approximately $5 million in cash from the gang, which used the drug money to purchase and lease luxury vehicles, buy real estate and jewelry.
Arabov became popular among hip-hop and R&B artists in the mid-1990s after he attracted the attention of Notorious BIG, according to the Jacob & Co. Web site.
Sean "Diddy" Combs, Madonna and Sir Elton John have all worn his baubles.
