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Show Al2 The Salt LakeTribune RUSSIA Friday, December 4,1998 Russian Hit Men Fled, Kicked Back In Miami, Former FBI Agent Says THE SSOCIATED PRESS Monday, is expected to hear evidence from morethan 90 witness- and ran operations in New York, es. Los Angeles and Houston, a for. Levinson, who spentfour years investigating the Russian mafia told the court Thursday that Solntsevskaya took over nightclubs in New York's Brighton Beach area and in Los Angeles, mer FBI agent testified Thursda: Retired FBI agent Robert L vinson,testifying in the trial of re- puted mafia boss Sergei Mikhai- lov, said Mikhailovcontrolled two gades,’’ so-called “combat But government’s plan,while trying to stimulate spending,fails to address unbalancedfederal budget to the crimegroup. Mikhailov’s trial, which began GENEVA— Assassins from the Russian mafia escaped to the beaches of Miami after their hits of the Russia Brings Out Spate of Laws to Revive Economy bri- and invested several hundred as the assassination thousand dollars in a Houston car dealership “They became a center for drugs and a meeting place for racketeers,” he said of the New York and Los Angelesclubs Levinson also worked on the case of Russian mafia godfather Vyacheslav Ivankov, imprisoned for nearly 10 years in New York last year He said Ivankoy, Mikhailoy and other Solntsevskaya leaders would hold meetings in Miami to discuss “thetakeover andcontrol of several Moscow hotels” and other criminaloperations squads were known. ‘They would commit murders in Russia and other countries in Europe and then come to Miami where they wouldstaybythe beach andwait for theheat to cool off.’ Levinson said. Mikhailov, 40, is on trial in Switzerland for membership in the Moscow-based Solntsevskaya criminal organization and for breaking Swiss property laws in tiring avilla near Geneva. He ces a maximum 7% years in rison if convictedforthe various rimes He has denied any connection Lists il th ourWish Deseret Book LOS A\ deep and difficult the crisis is — and how di- vided Russians are about whatto do. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other lenders insist that the government step up tax collection and cut back social bene- an action plan designed to pull it out of its dive. The plan includesa list of 33 draft laws and fits — which are unlikely to be popular with workers who are unused to paying taxes and who have notbeen paid for monthsor years. 36 other measures aimed at lowering taxes The government's plan calls for lowering taxes on businesses and individuals in the and increasing investment, but it does not address the severely out-of-balance federal budget — the keyto any rescue plan. hopethat morepeople will pay up —a theory the IMF disputes. The program alsocalls for paying off wage and pensiondebts, imposing currencycontrols “They are trying to impress the public with the number of the laws and decrees in the program,” economist Otto Latsis said. “But until the government plainly presents their draft budget, no one in their sound mind will believe that they have a program.” The government's plodding progress in developing an economic program illustrates how on exporters andrestructuring the collapsed bankingsector. It also will set up a Russian development bankto channel investment into promising industries. At a news conference, Economics Minister Andrei Shapovalyants acknowledged that the government is still counting on IMF funds for partof its revenue. He called the plan “very tough” becauseit will impose a new tax system and restructure social benefits, but he did not describe those proposals in detail Thetext of the plan is expected to be re- leased this weekend; the governmentis asking parliament to pass the necessary legislation in the next six weeks. The ruble crashed and Russia defaulted on its treasury debt Aug. 17, prompting the IMF to halt paymentof a $4.3 billion installment of a $22.6 billion loan package. IMF officials said they will not release the fundsunless the governmentimprovestax collection, balances the budget, refrains from printing money and implements reforms. 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