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Moscow police close third casino linked to Georgian mafia

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Russia's Interior Ministry has shut down a third Moscow casino in an apparent crackdown on gambling businesses controlled by the Georgian mafia, a ministry official said Thursday.
MOSCOW, October 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Interior Ministry has shut down a third Moscow casino in an apparent crackdown on gambling businesses controlled by the Georgian mafia, a ministry official said Thursday.

The official said the Golden Palace Weekend casino, which the ministry said is controlled by the same Georgian crime bosses who own the Kristal and the Golden Palace casinos shut down on October 3 and 4, was closed by the ministry's economic security department for numerous violations of the tax code.

"During an operation conducted on the night of October 5, police searched the premises of the Golden Palace Weekend casino, located in the Vinogradovo Hotel at 171 Dmitrovskoye Shosse [northern Moscow]," the official said. "It is the third casino associated with the Kristal and the Golden Palace casinos, which were shut down earlier by the police."

Operatives also established that the casino's administrators kept personal files on regular customers that contained photos, videotapes, copies of their passports and other documents.

"Criminal bosses from Georgia were among the frequent visitors to the casino," the source said, adding that many of them enjoyed special privileges and complimentary services.

The ministry's move came against the backdrop of tensions between Russia and Georgia over alleged spying by Russian military officers stationed in the South Caucasus nation. Russia shut down transport and mail links with Georgia Monday, and several senior Russian politicians have demanded economic sanctions and other measures against the country.

Moscow hinted it might suspend banking operations and money transfers between the two countries as a way of stopping illegal capital flows, which it said are ultimately used for the militarization of the region.

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