Wayzata World Factbook 1996/The World Factbook - 1996 Edition - Wayzata Technology (3079) (1996).iso/mac/TEXT/trvltops/rcrime.top

Text File | 1996-01-11 | 15KB | 232 lines

CRIME IN RUSSIA- US BUSINESS
06/26/94
ST00021

THE U.S. EMBASSY IN MOSCOW FILED THE FOLLOWING REPORT CONCERNING CRIME IN
RUSSIA AGAINST AMERICAN BUSINESSES.  THE FOLLOWING REPORT DELETES NAMES OF
INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH PRIVACY ACT LAWS.  ALL OTHER
INFORMATION IS REPORTED IN ITS ENTIRETY.

THIS TELEGRAM SUMMARIZES, UPDATES AND DRAWS TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS FROM NINE
CASES OF THREATS TO AMERICAN BUSINESS PEOPLE IN RUSSIA THAT CAME TO THE
ATTENTION OF THE CONSULAR SECTION SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.  HALF OF
THE CASES WERE ALREADY REPORTED IN GREATER DETAIL, BUT ARE SUMMARIZED AND
UPDATED HERE BASED ON FOLLOW UP CALLS TO THE VICTIMS.

ALL OF THESE CASES INVOLVED SMALL BUSINESSES.  WE SUSPECT THAT LARGER
AMERICAN COMPANIES ALSO RECEIVE THREATS, BUT ARE MORE LIKELY TO HANDLE THEM
ON THEIR OWN.  THE AMERICAN'S MOTIVATIONS FOR REPORTING THE INCIDENTS ARE
OFTEN TO INFORM THE EMBASSY "IN CASE ANYTHING HAPPENS" AND TO SEEK ADVICE.
WHEN THE VICTIMS WISH, THE EMBASSY FACILITATES CONTACT WITH ORGANIZED CRIME
CRIME POLICE, AND IN ONE OF THESE CASES WE EXPEDITED ISSUANCE OF AN IMMIGRANT
VISA SO THAT THE AMNERICAN COULD LEAVE QUICKLY WITH HIS WIFE.

THESE CASES DEFY SIMPLE PATTERNS.  IN SOME, THE PERPETRATORS WERE HENCHMEN OF
ESTABLISHED ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS WHICH CLAIMED TERRITORIAL
CONTROL OVER THE AMERICAN'S PLACE OF BUSINESS.  IN OTHER CASES, THE
PERPETRATORS IMPLIED THAT THEY REPRESENTED CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS WHEN THEY
PROBABLY DID NOT.  IN STILL OTHER CASES, ERSTWHILE BUSINESS ASSOCIATES WERE
BEHIND THE THREATS, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT BY ORGANIZED
CRIMINALS.  WITHOUT A WELL FUNCTIONING LEGAL SYSTEM, THREATS ARE OFTEN USED
TO RESOLVE BUSINESS DISPUTES.

ONLY A FEW CONCLUSIONS CAN BE READILY DRAWN FROM THESE CASES:

-  AMERICANS WHO HAVE BUILT BUSINESSES IN RUSSIA ARE NOT ABANDONING THEM IN
THE FACE OF RUSSIAN ORGANIZED CRIME.
-  ORGANIZED CRIMINALS DO NOT SPARE STRONG-ARM TACTICS WHEN CONFRONTING
AMERICANS DOING BUSINESS HERE.  WHILE NONE OF THE CASES BELOW RESULTED IN
INJURY OR DEATH TO AN AMERICAN, SEVERAL CAME CLOSE, LEADING US TO BELIEVE
THAT A FUTURE CASE COULD INDEED HAVE A TRAGIC RESULT.

-  THREATS TO AMERICAN BUSINESSES SUDDENLY BECAME MORE COMMON AT THE
BEGINNING OF 1994.  WHILE PAYING "PROTECTION MONEY" THROUGH A JOINT VENTURE
PARTNER OR A "SECURITY FIRM" HAS BEEN NORMAL PRACTICE HERE, ONLY RARELY DID
WE HEAR OF DIRECT THREATS AND EXTORTION BEFORE THIS YEAR.

-  AMERICN VICTIMS ARE OFTEN, BUT NOT ALWAYS, RELUCTANT TO INFORM OR WORK
WITH RUSSIAN POLICE BECAUSE THEY DOUBT THE EFFECTIVENESS AND TRUSTWORTHINESS
OF THE POLCIE.

CASE HISTORIES
1.  AN AMERICAN PRIMARY DISTRIBUTOR FOR A LARGE U.S. COMPANY WAS ABDUCTED
ON HIS WAY TO WORK AND HELD IN A SMALL ROOM FOR SEVEN HOURS BY HE SAID,
DAGESTANI CRIMINALS.  HIS DRIVER WAS BEATEN, BUT THE BUSINESSMAN WAS NOT HURT
HIS CAPTORS DEMANDED SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, BUT EVENTUALLY SETTLED ON
FIFTY THOUSAND TO BE PAID IMMEDIATELY, PLUS FIFTY THOUSAND THE NEXT DAY AND
FIVE THOUSAND PER MONTH.  HIS CAPTORS DROVE HIM TO HIS OFFICE, AND FROM THERE
HE CALLED THE EMBASSY AND JOINT VENTURE PARTENER FOR ADVICE.  HIS ARMED
CAPTORS GREW IMPATIENT AND THE BUSINESSMAN HANDED THEM $50,000 FROM HIS SAFE.
THE LACK OF A RELIABLE BANKING SYSTEM IN RUSSIA LEADS MANY BUSINESSES TO KEEP
LARGE SUMS OF CASH ON HAND.  HE OFFERED TO DISCUSS FUTURE PAYMENTS THAT NIGHT
AT HIS APARTMENT.  THERE THE "SECURITY SERVICE" PREVIOUSLY RETAINED BY THE
AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN'S JOINT VENTURE PARTNER ALSO MET THE STARTLED
EXTORTIONISTS.  NEGOTIATIONS LED TO AN AGREEMENT BY WHICH THE DAGESTANIS KEPT
THE $50,000 BUT MADE NO FURTHER CLAIMS.

2.  IN FEBRUARY TWO UNKNOWN RUSSIAN MEN ENTERED THE OFFICE OF AN AMERICAN
BUSINESSMAN AND STATED THEY CONTROLLED THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE HIS BUSINESS
HAS BEEN LOCATED, FOR ONE AND HALF YEARS.  SPEAKING TO HIM IN HIS CONFERENCE
ROOM WITH HIS SECRETARY ACTING AS HIS INTERPRETER, THEY GAVE HIM THREE
CHOICES, PAY $150,000 THE NEXT DAY; PROVIDE THE NAME OF ANY "SECURITY SERVICE
HE MIGHT ALREADY HAVE RETAINED SO THAT THEY COULD DISCUSS "TERRITORY"; OR
THEY WOULD BLOW UP HIS OFFICE.  AFTER THE MEETING THE BUSINESSMAN CALLED
RUSSIAN FRIENDS WHO GAVE HIM THE NAME OF A SECURITY SERVICE WITH WHICH TO
BLUFF THE EXTORTIONISTS.  WHEN THE EXTORTIONISTS RETURNED, THE BUSINESSMAN
GAVE THEM THE CONTACT INFORMATION.  THEY DEMANDED A MEETING BUT NEVER TRIED
TO SCHEDULE ONE.

THIS BUSINESSMAN, WHO IMPORTS ELECTRONICS FROM JAPAN FOR AN AMERICAN COMPANY
AND EMPLOYS SIX PEOPLE IN AN OFFICE WITH NO STOREFRONT OR ADVERTISING.  HE
ONLY SELLS WHOLESALE.  DURING A FOLLOW-UP CALL ON MARCH 30, THE VICTIM SAID
HE HAS HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS AND PLANS TO REMAIN IN BUSINESS.  HE HAS NOT
HIRED "PROTECTION" DUE TO THE EXPENSE, BUT SAID HE COULD NOW ARRANGE IT
QUICKLY IF NEEDED.  HE DESCRIBED MOSCOW AS A "JUNGLE", SAYING HIS APARTMENT H
HAD BEEN BORKEN INTO IN AND HIS CAR STOLEN OVER THE PAST YEAR, PROBLEMS HE
NEVER HAD IN NEW YORK CITY.

3.  AN AMERICAN-BASED SCHOOL, WHICH EMPLOYS ABOUT 20 AMERICANS, REPORTED THAT
THE SCHOOL HAD RECEIVED AN EXTORTION THREAT BY TELEPHONE IN FEBRUARY, WHICH
THE DIRECTOR REFUSED.  LATER, ONE OF THE SCHOOL'S RUSSIAN EMPLOYEES WAS
APPROACHED AND TOLD TO PAY $650 WITHIN ONE WEEK; THE EXTORTIONISTS THREATENED
THE SCHOOL AND SAID THE DIRECTOR SHOULD NOT LEAVE THE COUNTRY.  THE EMPLOYEE
PAID THE MONEY, AFTER WHICH THE SCHOOL HIRED A SECURITY SERVICE.  DURING A
FOLLOW-UP CALL IN LATE APRIL, THE DIRECTOR SAID THE EXTORTIONIST HAD
CONTACTED THE SCHOOL ONCE MORE, BUT MADE NO MORE THREATS.  THE DIRECTOR SAID
THE SCHOOL WOULD SOON REEXAMINE WHETHER TO RETAIN THE EXPENSIVE SECURITY
SERVICE.

4.  A DEPARTMENT OF STATE CABLE RECENTLY CALLED ATTENTION TO A THREAT
APPARENTLY DESIGNED TO INTIMIDATE AN AMERICAN FIRM.  THIS FIRM HAD AN ONGOING
CONTRACTURAL DISPUTE WITH A MOSCOW ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, ITS JOINT VENTURE
PARTNER FOR THE PROVISION OF SNACK FOOD AT SPECIAL EVENTS.  THUGS TOLD THE
ONE OF THE AMERICAN FIRM'S RUSSIAN EMPLOYEES TO RESIGN, WHICH HE DID, OR
RISK HARM TO HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY.  DURING A FOLLOW-UP CALL BY A U.S.
EMBASSY OFFICIAL, THE AMERICAN FIRM'S MANAGER SAID THAT CLOSE TIES
BETWEEN THE HEAD OF THE MOSCOW ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY AND THE MOSCOW MAYOR
RESULTED IN CONTINUED HARASSMENT OF THE AMERICAN FIRM BY MOSCOW CITY
AUTHORITIES -- SURPRISE INSPECTIONS BY VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS, A COMPLETE
TAX AUDIT BY MAYORAL DECREE AND SANITATION FINES.  THE AMERICAN FIRM'S
MANAGER SAID NO FURTHER THREATS HAD BEEN RECEIVED AND THAT HE WAS OPTIMISTIC
THAT HIS ATTORNEY WOULD SOON REACH A SETTLEMENT RESULTING IN RECONCILIATION
OR A TERMINATION OF THE CONTRACT.  DAYS LATER, HOWEVER, AN ARTICLE APPEARED
IN THE WASHINGTON POST STATING THAT THE AMERICAN COMPANY IN THE U.S. HAD JUST
WITHDRAWN ITS AMERICANS "ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS FOR THEIR SAFETY."  ATTEMPTS
TO CONTACT THE AMERICAN FIRM'S OFFICE IN MOSCOW HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL.

5.  IN FEBRUARY, THE MOTHER OF AN AMERICAN CALLED THE EMBASSY TO REPORT FROM
THE U.S. THAT HER SON, A FORMER PARTNER IN AN EXPATRIATE BAR, WAS BEING
HELD HOSTAGE IN HIS MOSCOW APARTMENT.  THE RSO CALLED THE RUSSIAN POLICE, WHO
AFTER TRYING TO TELEPHONE THE APARTMENT AND SURVEILLING IT FOR SEVERAL HOURS
BROKE DOWN THE DOOR (A PROCESS WHICH TOOK AN HOUR).  INSIDE, THEY DISCOVERED
THE AMERICAN SITTING TOGETHER WITH A RUSSIAN COLLEAGUE, WHO IS ALSO A U.S
LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT.  THE AMERICAN REFUSED TO EXPLAIN OR TO FILE A
COMPLAINT AGAINST HIS COLLEAGUE, BUT IN A LATE NIGHT CONVERSATION WITH AN
EMBASSY OFFICIAL FROM THE POLICE STATION, HE REQUESTED TO BE RELEASED 15
MINUTES AHEAD OF HIS COLLEAGUE.  TWO DAYS LATER, THE AMERICAN AND HIS
COLLEAGUE GAVE CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS OF THE ORIGIN OF THE INCIDENT IN SEPARATE
VISIT TO THE U.S. EMBASSY.  THE AMERICAN COMPLAINED THAT HIS RUSSIAN PARTNERS
AT THE BAR HAD FORCED HIM OUT OF THE BUSINESS.  THE BOTTOM LINE APPEARED TO
BE THAT THE AMERICAN OWED MONEY FROM HIS VARIOUS BUSINESS VENTURES TO PEOPLE
WHO FEARED HE MIGHT LEAVE THE COUNTRY WITHOUT PAYING (HIGH INTEREST RATES
COMPOUND QUICKLY ON BORROWED MONEY IN MOSCOW).  U.S. EMBASSY OFFICIALS
RECOMMENDED THAT THE AMERICAN PAY ANY OUTSTANDING DEBTS AND LEAVE THE
COUNTRY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  THE EMBASSY HAS HEARD NOTHING FROM THE AMERICAN
SINCE.

6.  AN AMERICAN APPROACHED THE EMBASSY FOR ADVICE IN MAY AFTER RECEIVING
THREATS FROM TWO DIFFERENT ORGANIZED CRIME GROUPS.  THE AMERICAN RUNS A
COMPUTER SOFTWARE SUPPORT COMPANY, A JOINT VENTURE THAT SUPPLIES SUPPORT FOR
LARGE RUSSIAN COMPANIES, OUT OF AN UPSTAIRS OFFICE IN MOSCOW.  THE AMERICAN
EMPLOYS 15 RUSSIANS AND HAS BUILT HER BUSINESS HERE FOR FOUR YEARS.  THE
AMERICAN EXPLAINED THAT TWO THUGS WHO SAID THEY REPRESENTED THE SOLNTSEVO
MAFIA VISITED HER OFFICE, STATING THAT SHE SHOULD CONSIDER THEIR "SECURITY
SERVICES."  IN A SUBSEQUENT MEETING, THE AMERICAN'S RUSSIAN PARTNER,
UNBEKNOWST TO HER, AGREED TO PAY THE THUGS $1,000 A MONTH.  MEANWHILE, SHE
REPORTED THE ORIGINAL APPROACH TO THE BUILDING MANAGER, WHO, WITHOUT TELLING
THE AMERICAN, THEN REPORTED IT TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHECHEN MAFIA, WITH
WHOM THE BUILDING MANAGER HAD A PREVIOUS CONTRACT.  WHENT HE SOLNTSEVO MAFIA
APPEARED AT THE APPOINTED TIME TO RECEIVE THEIR FIRST PAYMENT, THE CHECHEN
MAFIA PREVENTED THEM FROM COLLECTING.  BELIEVING THEY HAD BEEN SET UP, THE
SOLNTSEVO MAFIA DEMANDED $10,000 IN COMPENSATION, THREATENING THE LIFE OF THE
AMERICAN'S JOINT PARTNER.  THE AMERICAN REQUESTED A MEETING WITH THE
BUILDING DIRECTOR AND THE CHECHEN MAFIA, WHO NOW SAID THEY WOULD ACCEPT THE
$10,000 ON BEHALF OF THE SOLNTSEVO MAFIA (THE TWO GROUPS HAD NEGOTIATED A
SETTLEMENT)  BY THIS POINT, THE AMERICAN SAID SHE WAS IN A FURY.  SHE GAVE
THE CHECHEN MAFIA $10,000 IN CASH AND BLUNTLY TOLD THEM THAT THEY AND THE
SOLNTSEVO MAFIA WOULD GET MORE MONEY ONLY BY KILLING HER AND HER PARTNER.
SHE WAS ONLY WILLING, SHE SAID, TO PAY FOR SECURITY SERVICES THROUGH REGULAR
PAYMENTS TO THE BUILDING DIRECTOR.  AFTER THE MEETING, SHE STARED DOWN
AND EMBARRASSED THE THUGS WHO SEVERAL TIMES SHOWED UP AT HER OFFICE.  TWO
WEEKS LATER, CHECHEN REPRESENTATIVES TOLD HER THAT THE MOSCOW POLICE HAD
STOPPED THEM AS THEY LEFT THE MEETING, CONFISCATED THEIR PISTOLS AND DEMANDED
A BRIBE OF $2,000.  THIS COST, THEY INSISTED, THEY WOULD PASS ON TO HER.
STICKING TO HER EARLIER STAND, THE AMERICAN REFUSED AND CAME TO THE U.S.
EMBASSY FOR ADVICE.  THE RSO PUT HER IN CONTACT WITH THE ORGANIZED CRIME
POLICE, WITH WHOM SHE SAID SHE WOULD HAPPILY WORK IN ANY MANNER THEY WISHED
TO ARREST THE CHIEFS OF THE CHECHEN AND SOLNTSEVO MAFIAS.  DURING A FOLLOW-
UP CALL IN JUNE, THE AMERICAN SAID SHE HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE ORGANIZED
CRIME POLICE CONTACT, WHOM SHE SAID WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE.  HE HAD OFFERED TO
POSE AS HER INTERPRETER IN HER NEXT MEETING WITH MAFIA REPRESENTATIVES, WHICH
SHE HAS DECLINED FOR NOW, NOT WISHING TO FURTHER STIR THINGS UP.  SHE ADDED
THAT THE ORGANIZED CRIME POLICEMAN ADVISED HER THAT SHE MAY WISH TO PAY ONE
GROUP A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY EACH MONTH SO THAT SHE IS LEFT ALONE.  THE
AMERICAN WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE SOLNTSEVO REPRESENTATIVES HAD JUST CONTACTED
HER AGAIN, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A MONTH.  "YOU NEED FRIENDS AND SECURITY"
THEY TOLD HER, BUT WOULD NOT MAKE ANY SPECIFIC PROPOSALS.   THE AMERICAN
REPLIED THAT THEY HAD COST HER A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY, AND THE MEETING
ENDED THERE.  SHE BELIEVES THEY ARE CURIOUS ABOUT HER AND HER BUSINESS;
PERHAPS THEY THINK SHE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH A RECENT ARREST OF ONE OF
THEIR COLLEAGUES.  SHE TOLD U.S. EMBASSY OFFICIALS THAT SHE IS CONSIDERING
MOVING HER OFFICE TO ANOTHER MOSCOW LOCATION, BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE HER
PROBLEMS WILL END THERE.  SHE SUMMED UP THE SITUATION BY SAYING, "EVERYONE
HAS THIS PROBLEM, MOST PEOPLE PAY."

7.  THERE IS ALSO THE CASE OF AN AMERICAN WHO WAS PHYSICALLY THREATENED BY
ALLEGED CREDITORS FROM BUSINESS DEALS INVOLVING THE IMPORTATION INTO RUSSIA
OF COFFEE AND CLOTHING.  THE CREDITORS SHOWED THE AMERICAN POWER OF ATTORNEY
TO COLLECT DEBTS IN RUSSIA ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN'S FORMER PARTNER IN
AMERICA.  THE THREAT ALSO SPREAD TO ANOTHER AMERICAN FIRM BECAUSE THE
AMERICAN HAD ORIGINALLY COME TO RUSSIA IN 1989 ON BEHALF OF THIS FIRM.  THE
AMERICAN AGREED WITH THE EMBASSY'S RECOMMENDATION TO LEAVE RUSSIA ASAP, BUT
HE WANTED TO STAY UNTIL HIS CENTRAL ASIAN WIFE RECEIVED HER IMMIGRANT VISA TO
GO WITH HIM.  THE EMBASSY EXPEDITED THE ISSUANCE OF THE VISA AND HEARD
NOTHING FURTHER FROM THE AMERICAN FOR TWO WEEKS, WHEN HE CONTACTED THE
EMBASSY SAYING HE FEARED THAT HIT MEN MIGHT BE WATCHING THE AIRPORT.  THE RSO
ARRANGED FOR A BACK-DOOR CHECK-IN AT THE AIRPORT, AND THE AMERICAN LEFT WITH
HIS WIFE AND SON WITHOUT INCIDENT IN EARLY JUNE.

8.  ANOTHER CASE INVOLVES A AMERICAN, A MOSCOW RESIDENT OF SEVERAL YEARS
WHO WORKS AS A CONSULTANT IN VARIOUS FIELDS, INCLUDING PRECIOUS METALS.  THIS
AMERICAN HAS BEEN THREATENED THREE SEPARATE TIMES OVER THE PAST EIGHTEEN
MONTHS.  MOST RECENTLY, SHE WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN ARMED ROBBERY ATTEMPT IN
HER MOSCOW APARTMENT DURING WHICH HER LIFE AND THE LIVES OF HER CHILDREN WERE
REPEATEDLY THREATENED AND SHE WAS TOLD TO LEAVE RUSSIA IMMEDIATELY; IT IS NOT
CLEAR WHETHER THIS THREAT WAS RELATED TO HER BUSINESS ACTIVITIES.  IN
FEBRUARY, SHE HAD BEEN TOLD SHE WOULD BE DEPORTED AND RECEIVED OTHER VAGUE
THREAT FROM A RUSSIAN OFFICIAL WHO WANTED HER TO PROVIDE NEGATIVE INFORMATION
ON AN AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN (WHOM SHE BARELY KNEW) WHO HAD ALLEGEDLY DEFRAUDED
THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT (AND THUS PUT THE OFFICIAL'S JOB AT RISK).  WHILE
REPORTING THIS INCIDENT, THE AMERICAN RECOUNTED HOW A YEAR EARLIER SHE WAS
ABDUCTED AND THREATENED BY ERSTWHILE BUSINESS ASSOCIATES WHO WANTED HER TO
SIGN A CONTRACT WITH THEM INSTEAD OF A COMPETITOR.  THE RSO ARRANGED FOR
FOR THE AMERICAN TO MEET WITH THE RUSSIAN ORGANIZED CRIME POLICE.  SHE
REMAINS IN MOSCOW THOUGH SHE HAS SENT HER CHILDREN TO THE U.S.

9.  IN EARLY JUNE, A DISHELVED AMERICAN CITIZEN APPEARED AT THE MAIN GATE OF
THE U.S. EMBASSY AND TOLD GUARDS THAT HE HAD JUST ESCAPED FROM A MOSCOW
APARTMENT, WHERE HE HAD BEEN HELD AGAINST HIS WILL BY EXTORTIONISTS FOR THREE
WEEKS.  THE AMERICAN LATER RECOUNTED HIS STORY TO AN EMBASSY OFFICIAL.  THE
AMERICAN AND HIS PARTNER HAD SET UP A SMALL STORE IN MOSCOW.  HE WAS
APPROACHED BY ACQUAINTANCES, WHO TOLD HIM THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN BUYING
SOME OF HIS PRODUCTS.  AFTER MEETING IN THE INTOURIST HOTEL, IN DOWNTOWN
MOSCOW, THE GROUP RETIRED TO A PRIVATE APARTMENT FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.
ONCE THERE, THE BUSINESS PARTNER MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED AND THE AMERICAN
WAS TOLD THAT HE COULD NOT LEAVE UNTIL HE AND HIS PARTNER PAID A RANSOM OF
$500,000.  THE AMERICAN ESCAPED AFTER THREE WEEKS WHEN HIS GUARDS GOT DRUNK
AND PASSED OUT.  THE CONSULAR SECTION PUT HIM IN TOUCH WITH HIS WIFE IN THE
U.S. AND HELPED HIM GET ON A FLIGHT TO LEAVE RUSSIA THAT SAME DAY.  THE
AMERICAN DID NOT WANT THE POLICE INVOLVED AND WE ASSUME HE LEFT INSTRUCTIONS
FOR HIS PARTNER ON WHAT, IF ANYTHING, TO DO.19940710***