and Sidorov shortly before the murder. The threat came as articles were to be published detailing illegal schemes by Abramov's son, Oleg, to transfer money to foreign companies and to re-export VAZ automobiles through the port of Novorossiisk. Sidorov could also not rule out that the murder was revenge wrought by the paper's "favorite" personalities, Zhilkin and his partners.

Meanwhile, another contracted murder was committed in Tolyatti on 7 May in the morning, "Samara segodnya" reported the next day. Sergei Kladov, the director at one of Tolyatti's largest construction companies, was shot on the street while walking to his car.

Hundreds Of Migrants Detained In 'Operation Foreigner' In Samara OblastSome 1,300 people were detained for violating the rules of foreigners' registration during a "foreigner sweep" held from 1-7 May inSamara Oblast, "Samara segodnya" reported on 8 May. Almost all of those detained are citizens of Georgia, Azerbaijan, or Ukraine. Some of those arrested were deported from Samara Oblast. According to oblast interior officials, migrants from neighboring countries who do not have proper documents are often involved in trafficking drugs or weapons to Moscow. Law enforcement officials called for the introduction of a stricter regime to oversee the movement of citizens of neighboring countries within Russia.

Governor Rossel's Term In Office May Be ProlongedThe term of Sverdlovsk Oblast Governor Eduard Rossel may be prolonged by 3 to 7 months, the deputy head of the governor's administration, Anatolii Gaida, told Uralinformbureau on 8 May. The measure would allow for several electoral campaigns in the oblast to be held at the