1.   Although Crimean officials have since admitted there is a huge problem with organized crime, they condemned the rioting.

2.   Authorities negotiated with the leaders of the group, who demanded that Crimean officials resign.

3.   Several senior regional officials have been killed in recent years and dozens of Crimean officials and city councilmen are currently being investigated for alleged corruption.

4.   Tatars who rioted over the weekend were the victims of extortion and police corruption, top Crimean officials told the regional parliament on Wednesday.

5.   Crimean officials earlier charged that the takeover order amounted to a military coup against the leadership of the Russian-speaking region.