[JR]

oops. it was not him that "stabbed himself in the chest" it was another boss from Khabarovsk.

also, when they had his funeral a ton of people came from all over Russia.. and a shitload of them got killed too.

This is the main boss who got arrested and subsequently "had an accident"

-----------------


The most influential alleged don in the Far East is dead and experts predict fierce and bloody infighting in the criminal world for his heritage.

Yevgeny Vasin, 49, more commonly known by his nickname Jam, died of a heart attack in a Khabarovsk prison on Tuesday, the Khabarovsk regional police department said in a statement.

When he was imprisoned a month ago he complained of chest pains but doctors who examined him said he wasn't eligible for hospitalization. Vasin even went on a brief hunger strike in protest of the decision, police sources said.

Members of Vasin's group reportedly believe that the police have had a hand in his death.

While serving a prison term in the 80s, Vasin was reportedly promoted to one of the highest ranks in the criminal hierarchy. Reports say the Russian criminal community appointed him to oversee the Far East in 1989 which he did based out of Komsomolsk-on-Amur. He wielded the most influence in the Khabarovsk region.

Lately, he has reportedly been in control of an oil refinery and a scrap metal processing plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Companies subordinate to his alleged criminal empire dealt in the export of fish, oil, timber and metals. He allegedly was behind extortion activities and collection of protection fees from businesses.

But he had a softer side. A former soccer player, he sponsored two soccer clubs in his home city. He reportedly organized summer recreation camps for the children of workers who were laid off from idled factories in the 90s. He is said to have opened a public reception office where people could apply for solutions to their problems. Some victims of robberies and burglaries were reportedly able to recover their possessions if they could prove that they were poor.

When Jam was arrested a few weeks ago, more than a hundred crop-headed men gathered around his mansion within minutes, police sources said. But he told the men not to interfere explaining to them that he was apparently being apprehended by mistake.

In fact, the arrest was thoroughly planned, with the Federal Security Service playing the leading role. Vasin was charged with putting out several contracts for his rivals, racketeering, and orchestrating an explosion in a local cafe, which killed eight people.

Vasin's demise is likely to spark feuds over the businesses that he controlled and over the criminal "purse" - the money that criminals pitch in for their common purposes.

Jam's most known rivals were criminal groups from Moscow and Irkutsk as well as the so-called Georgian group. All of these groups want their share of the tribute that the Far East paid to Jam.

The potential infighting, however, will hardly affect Primorye because the region has traditionally been independent from Jam's alleged empire, police sources said. Primorye has had strong underworld groups comprised of former athletes such as boxers and wrestlers, which were able to hold their ground against outsiders.
The most influential alleged don in the Far East is dead and experts predict fierce and bloody infighting in the criminal world for his heritage.

Yevgeny Vasin, 49, more commonly known by his nickname Jam, died of a heart attack in a Khabarovsk prison on Tuesday, the Khabarovsk regional police department said in a statement.

When he was imprisoned a month ago he complained of chest pains but doctors who examined him said he wasn't eligible for hospitalization. Vasin even went on a brief hunger strike in protest of the decision, police sources said.

Members of Vasin's group reportedly believe that the police have had a hand in his death.

While serving a prison term in the 80s, Vasin was reportedly promoted to one of the highest ranks in the criminal hierarchy. Reports say the Russian criminal community appointed him to oversee the Far East in 1989 which he did based out of Komsomolsk-on-Amur. He wielded the most influence in the Khabarovsk region.

Lately, he has reportedly been in control of an oil refinery and a scrap metal processing plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Companies subordinate to his alleged criminal empire dealt in the export of fish, oil, timber and metals. He allegedly was behind extortion activities and collection of protection fees from businesses.

But he had a softer side. A former soccer player, he sponsored two soccer clubs in his home city. He reportedly organized summer recreation camps for the children of workers who were laid off from idled factories in the 90s. He is said to have opened a public reception office where people could apply for solutions to their problems. Some victims of robberies and burglaries were reportedly able to recover their possessions if they could prove that they were poor.

When Jam was arrested a few weeks ago, more than a hundred crop-headed men gathered around his mansion within minutes, police sources said. But he told the men not to interfere explaining to them that he was apparently being apprehended by mistake.

In fact, the arrest was thoroughly planned, with the Federal Security Service playing the leading role. Vasin was charged with putting out several contracts for his rivals, racketeering, and orchestrating an explosion in a local cafe, which killed eight people.

Vasin's demise is likely to spark feuds over the businesses that he controlled and over the criminal "purse" - the money that criminals pitch in for their common purposes.

Jam's most known rivals were criminal groups from Moscow and Irkutsk as well as the so-called Georgian group. All of these groups want their share of the tribute that the Far East paid to Jam.

The potential infighting, however, will hardly affect Primorye because the region has traditionally been independent from Jam's alleged empire, police sources said. Primorye has had strong underworld groups comprised of former athletes such as boxers and wrestlers, which were able to hold their ground against outsiders.



Last edited by JR at Feb 19 2004, 02:41 PM