Moscow, 19 October: Field agents of the Russian Interior Ministry have information that that the leaders of the criminal underworld conducted the latest so-called "coronation" of newly "made men" (vernacular: "vory v zakone", often translated literally as "thieves-in-law") on mobile phones, a high-ranking source in the Russian Interior Ministry told RIA Novosti on Monday (19 October).

"According to the information we have, several dozen people took part in the coronation procedure that was conducted on mobile phones. Besides, four of those 'being crowned' were behind bars at that moment," the agency's interlocutor said.

According to him, the leaders of the criminal underworld chose this form of communication largely because recently field agents of the criminal investigations department broke off several major criminal underworld gatherings and detained quite a few wanted "thieves-in-law".

"Such an unusual form of coronation was chosen precisely because of their unwillingness to get spotted by field agents," the source noted.

According to him, the Interior Ministry's field services also have information that "thieves-in-law" are seriously concerned about the forthcoming amendments to the legislation that will affect the leaders of the criminal
underworld.

On 4 September, the president of the Russian Federation submitted to the State Duma amendments to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation that will introduce tougher punishment for members of criminal groupings and clans.

"Lately, 'thieves-in-law' have been seriously considering the possibility of leaving Russia and moving to one of the countries of the near abroad in order to avoid punishment they will face if the State Duma adopts the amendments to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code," the agency's source noted. (Passage omitted: the proposed amendments described)

"Crime bosses are also trying to modify or block the amendments to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code. We are monitoring such attempts and working intensively on these issues," the agency's source noted.

(Passage omitted: RIA Novosti learnt from a source in the Moscow Criminal Investigations Department that on 17 October Ukrainian law-enforcement agencies handed over to Russia two alleged "thieves-in-law", Georgia-born Russian citizen Merab Asanidze (born in 1962, nickname Chikora), and Moldova-born Russian citizen Vasiliy Stanchu (born in 1971, nickname Moldavan), both reportedly members of the clan of Aslan Usoyan (Granddad Khasan). The source was also quoted as saying that over the last few years there has been a conflict going on between two groups - the clans led by Aslan Usoyan and late Vyacheslav Ivankov (Yaponchik), on one side, and the clan led by Tariel Oniani, on the other.)

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