Russia

Russia's deepening economic crisis has sparked a wave of violent crime in Moscow, the capital's chief prosecutor said on Feb. 16. Russia's leaders are trying to stem the worst economic crisis in at least a decade and investors are watching for any signs of rising crime or discontent. Moscow Chief Prosecutor Yuri Syomin said overall crime levels fell in 2008 but that there had been a spike in violent crime last month. "One of the most significant negative consequences of the crisis could be a change in crime trends," Syomin told reporters. Murders rose 16 percent in Moscow last month and fatal assaults 44 percent, he said. (Reuters)