21.   Contract murders have become widespread in Russia, where increasingly aggressive mobsters battle for turf and try to establish control over profitable businesses.

22.   Contract murders, kidnappings and armed assaults are rising, he told reporters, as are corruption cases and economic crimes.

23.   Dozens of businessmen and government officials fall victim to contract murders in Russia every year, and few of the cases get resolved.

24.   Gunmen shot and killed the business manager of the Russian Army Club ice hockey team Friday in what appeared to be a contract murder.

25.   Hundreds of contract murders are reported in Russia every year, and most are committed by professional hit men using fire arms.

26.   Hundreds of contract murders are reported in Russia every year, and most are committed by professional hitmen using firearms.

27.   Hundreds of contract murders, involving businessmen and at times public figures, are committed in Russia every year.

28.   It was the second contract murder in Komsomolsk-on-Amur this fall.

29.   Last May, the Crimean state property privatization chief was shot dead, also in what police said was a contract murder.

30.   Many criminals work in small, loosely knit gangs, involved in armed robbery, racketeering, smuggling, drug trafficking, prostitution and even contract murder.