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Russian Diplomat Shot Dead in Burundi
A Russian diplomat was shot dead in Burundi on Saturday after security forces fired at his car as he was driving through a checkpoint outside the capital of Bujumbura. Authorities say Vladimir Rashitko did not obey the order to stop and tried to force his way through. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the Burundian defense minister had taken the probe under his personal control.
Vladimir Rashitko (Rushitko in other reports) spent Friday night at a nightclub in Bujumbura and was on his way back home, Burundian investigators say. Local media broadcast an interview with the diplomat’s companion who said she got into a dispute with the man after meeting him at the nightclub. The Russian ejected the woman before the incident.
He was told to stop by soldiers at a checkpoint south of Bujumbura but he forced his way through, Col. Adolphe Manirakiza reported. The soldiers shot at his car, and he was hit, Mr. Manirakiza added. The man died in his car.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin confirmed “the tragic death of one of the administrative staff” in Burundi. “The embassy is in close contact with law enforcement agencies of the country and is clarifying the circumstances around the affair,” he said in the statement. “Burundi is carrying out an investigation into this tragic incident, which the defense minister of Burundi is overseeing personally.” The Russian ministry, however, gave would not give further details or name the diplomat officially.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of June 25, 2007
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