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Mayor Of Russian Town Taken Hostage By Armed Man


USOLYE-SIBIRSKOYE -- The mayor of a town in eastern Russia was briefly taken hostage today by an armed man, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.

Armed with two hand grenades, the man forced his way into the car of Usolye-Sibirskoye Mayor Yevgeny Kustos and ordered to be taken to the prosecutor's office. But the mayor escaped after they arrived and locked himself inside a room.

A suspect, Igor Golubev, was detained by police. Local officials said he was under the influence of alcohol.

The motive for the hostage-taking is unclear. An investigation has been launched.

Golubev, 40, has been charged with hostage-taking and illegal possession of weapons.

Usolye-Sibirskoye is a town of some 90,000 people in the Irkutsk Oblast. Kustos has been mayor since December.
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