Russian immigrants
Congress Party MP Shantaram Naik has condemned the Russian presence, objecting specifically to rudeness, nudity, and crime including assaults and running businesses in violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act. [3] Indian security agencies have become concerned with the Russian mafia involvement in drug trade, prostitution, and land ownership in the formerly quiet beach village. [4] CNN-IBN specifically accused former town and urban planning minister Babush Monserrate of having ties to the Russian mafia. [5] Politicians have also described the Russian presence as "bad for Goa". [6] Current Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar participated in a Gram Sabha at Morjim in the role of the BJP Goa State President accusing the Russians of having all kind of vices. Vishwanath Azgaonkar & Sonu Shetgaonkar local villagers who participated in the Gram Sabha of Morjim employed the terms "Drug Mafia", "Russian Mafia". [7]
In response to such complaints, Vikram Varma, a Goa-based lawyer in the employ of Russia's Mumbai consulate, said that of the tens of thousands of Russian visitors to and residents in the area, fifteen were implicated in illegal property deals in 2007 and two were arrested for drugs possession in 2008. He also said Russian visitors as a whole contribute roughly ₹4 billion to the local economy each year and form 40% of hotel occupancies. [2] Nearly 75% of chartered flights to Goa come from Russia. [4] Consul General Alexander Novikov said there is no Russian mafia in the State [8] despite the consulate's lawyer saying the contrary. [9]
In April 2013, Goa Chief Minister (CM) Manohar Parrikar, who is also Home Minister in charge of Police, told the legislative assembly in Goa that Russian, German or Israeli mafias were not operating in the state. He was responding to a question raised by Congress legislator Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco. Parrikar said "unobtrusive watch" is maintained on the activities of the foreigners staying in Goa. "If any foreigner is found involved in any crime, legal action as per the law is taken", he said. [10]
The Goa BJP Chief Minister was saying the same thing as what North Goa Police Chief said when Congress Govt was in power before BJP. North Goa's superintendent of police had said "it would be an exaggeration to talk of a Russian mafia in Goa, though there have been Russians who have hidden facts about themselves from both the Goa government and the home country.". [11]
During the three and a half years up to August 2014, the police have registered 182 narcotic cases in the state. The nationalities of those arrested for selling drugs are mostly from Nigeria, followed by Nepalese, Indians and Britishers". [12]
Michael Lobo, Goa's member of legislative assembly for Calangute, told Russian media that local sentiments are only against those foreigners engaged in illegal business activities in the state. Michael said "We welcome all international tourists including the Russians, whoever is going to boost our economy. There are some Russians who are doing illegal business. When I say illegal businesses, I mean businesses which are meant to be run by the local Goans and the Indians, especially where restaurants are concerned. If they come on a business visa or a work visa, they are welcome to do business in Goa." [13]
Francisco de Braganca, president, Travel & Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) in Sept 14 spoke about the contribution made by Russian Tourists. He said "Russia has over the years provided high number of tourists to Goa and this turf needs to be protected. There is a wrong impression about Russians in Goa on account of few issues which have happened between them and local people. However, we must not forget that Russians are amiable people and on account of their difficulty to speak any other language have a tendency to mix among themselves. We need to respect their sensibilities. Goa has not treated Russians well enough even after it has been the largest provider of charter tourists. Our mind set has to change". [14]
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar does not believe that Russian and Israeli mafias operate in Goa, but according to leaked diplomatic cables, Mumbai police are sure of it. A US diplomatic cable dispatched by Mumbai Consul General Paul Folmsbee in 2009 quotes former head of Mumbai Crime Branch Rakesh Maria saying trafficking of foreign women prostitutes to Mumbai is controlled by Israeli and Russian mafia lords operating from Goa. "Maria alleged that most trafficking of foreigners to Mumbai is connected to Russian and Israeli mafia operations in Goa, explaining why Mumbai police had not cracked the trafficking ring(s)," Folmsbee's cable to the US administration said. [15]
Rajan Ghate, a secretary of the state unit of the NCP, has demanded a thorough probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the nexus between the Land Mafia, Politicians and revenue officials, which is already being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). [16]
In August 2012 Eduard Faleiro, former Union Minister, reiterated the Russian mafia threat to Morjim and Goa. He said, "Russians with criminal background are buying properties through benami means". The state health minister Laxmikant Parsekar said at a gram sabha meeting at the Morjim village panchayat that "these Russians have all kinds of vices and the moment the Russian tourists come to one place all other tourists flee from there. Even earlier, we had tourists from other countries but we never had this problem." Parsekar said the quantity of Russian tourists in the state had triggered a virtual cultural invasion in Morjim and surrounding areas and because of their sheer numbers, the Russians were indulging in dadagiri . [17]
At 0:00 on 31 December 2012, a resort called Club Fresh was vandalised by an armed gang consisting of more than 20 men in retaliation over business quarrels. Guests including children were injured and property damage to the resort was incurred. [18] [19]
