Dnipropetrovsk Bombing Update
Mysterious Dnipropetrovsk bombings remain unsolved
This is the official version – that the blasts were an organized act of
terrorism. Two days after the blasts, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU)
published three descriptions of the suspected terrorists. However, no
arrests have been reported. Also, no one has claimed responsibility or
made demands. What may have motivated terrorists remains unclear.
Prosecutor General Viktor Pshonka said blasts could be related to a
similar explosion on Nov. 16 in Dnipropetrovsk, which killed one person
and was not solved.
“This doesn’t look like a terrorist attack, but more like a criminal act
stemming from an economic dispute,” said Oleksandr Skipalsky, a former
SBU lieutenant general and ex-head of the military intelligence
department of the Defense Ministry.
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Two weeks before the blasts, Dnipropetrovsk was shocked by the
assassination of businessman Hennadiy Akselrod, known for numerous
construction projects and close ties with a local group that is alleged
to improperly raid other businesses.
Akselrod was shot near his house in downtown Dnipropetrovsk on April 14.
Soon after, Akselrod’s friend and partner, Hennadiy Korban, who
together with Akselrod survived an assassination attempt two years ago,
said he is “much harder to get to” as he drives around in armored cars
and avoids public places.
Speculation is that the blasts are revenge from one side or the other.
The murder also highlighted the presence of gangs in the city.
The news doesn't cover Eastern Europe here in US. We only hear of it on BBC.
ReplyDeleteThe Ol'Buzzard
http://www.kyivpost.com/
Deletehttp://www.rferl.org/
http://www.aljazeera.com/
I knew that after the fall of the Soviet Union much of the state assets were privatized. Exactly who landed up with what and how it all came about is still a question. I know the old party bosses were behind much of the distribution of wealth to a new class of rich.
ReplyDeleteA great deal of cash had been accumulated by a few well connected of the party higher-ups. Corruption was rampant. I think they saw the end coming so stole everything they could.
DeletePrivatization was a murky business, pretty much determined by who had money and who had connections. It would have been difficult to do otherwise. Everything belonged to everyone and no one had any money except those at the top. The state and collective farms were divided up among the people who worked there with each person getting so much land (which they cannot sell even yet) but the businesses were a different matter. They were sold off. If it had been open and honest bidding, foreigners would have bought everything, so it went to friends. In-fighting was vicious and as you can see still is.
For a great description of the process in the 90's, read Casino Moscow http://www.amazon.com/Casino-Moscow-Adventure-Capitalisms-Frontier/dp/0684869772