Shocking news is coming out of Russia this morning that the country home of world number six Anna Chakvetadze was robbed in Aprelevka last night.
There appears to be some confusion as to whether Chakvetadze was at home.
According to the Russian daily Kommersant, the tennis star was tied up with her parents and robbed of money and valuables worth approximately five million rubles, or roughly $202,000 US dollars.
RIA Novosti, another Russian online paper, quotes a police officer as saying that Chakvetadze’s parents were tied up, with no mention of Chakvetadze’s presence.
“Four unknown people wearing masks climbed over the fence of the country house at about 4:00 a.m. Moscow time [1:00 a.m. GMT], then broke into the house and tied her parents up,” said the officer.
The police have launched an investigation into the burglary.
Update: Reuters has confirmed that Anna was in the house at the time, but was not harmed.
Aaress,
I updated my post about this story. It looks like Anna was at home at the time of burglary and according to her dad even tried to show some resistance. This is according to Shamil Tarpischev who talked to Anna’s father Jamal Chakvetadze.
Nina – thanks for giving us the link to your story!
Can you give us a little perspective on this? I know that details are really sketchy, but this not the first time that an athlete has been attacked. Obviously this happens in the States too, but you mentioned in your post that many of Russia’s players prefer living elsewhere.
It this partially because of the danger or just the economy and training facilities?
A bit more news. I hope she is OK
Chakvetadze tied up, robbed in her Moscow home
Dec. 18, 2007
CBSSports.com wire reports
MOSCOW — Russian tennis star Anna Chakvetadze was tied up by masked robbers who broke into her home Tuesday and stole money and goods worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, her father said.
Six assailants approached the home outside Moscow before dawn, tied up a maid in another building and forced her to hand over a remote control enabling them to enter the house through the garage, Dzhamal Chakvetadze told NTV television.
“They started to beat me, and I resisted. They hit me over the head with, I think, a pistol butt. It was dark,” he said, taking off his cap to show his bruised scalp. “They took out a pistol and told me my child was at home — reminded me — and they told me to hand everything over. I did.”
Police and Russia tennis coach Shamil Tarpishchev said the assailants tied up Chakvetadze and her parents, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported. Tarpishchev said the 20-year-old player, ranked No. 6, “tried to resist but it was useless,” ITAR-Tass reported.
NTV said the robbers took about $106,000 in cash, as well as jewelry and other goods worth about $200,000.
Phone calls to Moscow region police were not immediately returned.
AP NEWS”
Editor Note: Citation – http://www.sportsline.com/tennis/story/10535673
This is extremely disturbing! I’m glad no one was injured during this mindless attack.
Professional athletes are more and more becoming targets for crimnals, at least in America. A 24 year-old football player was shot and killed in front of his mansion a couple of weeks ago, and 2 NBA players were tied up in their homes earlier this fall. It ***** that tennis players are now targets. You would think with all that money they could afford better security!
This has to be most amazing post tennis season ever with so many storylines floating around about the players and stuff…what a way to start 2008…
Hopefully, Chakvetadze is okay and they find the robbers and have a public hanging!
Lack of decent training facilities and the economic conditions are of course the main reasons that athletes prefer living in more developed countries. However, in Russia and overall in former Soviet countries the law enforcement agencies are not nearly as efficient as in let’s say in Western Europe or in the U.S. Plus, add the widespread corruption and you can understand why many citizens simple do not trust the law enforcement authorities and usually avoid reporting crimes. Famous people with widely publicized earnings naturally become the target of attacks. Socio-economic conditions also contribute to the crime rate.
Since Anna is famous around the world, Russians look at it as a blow to the country’s image and reputation. There are now high-ranking government officials supervising the case to make sure they solve it as soon as possible.
Chakvetadze’s country house was in Moscow suburbs which I doubt had a decent house security system in place.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she packs her stuff and moves to live and train in another country.
Wow Nina – thanks for the info.
I was aware that public figures in Russia were at a risk, but did not know that it was to that extent.
[...] being the victim of a burglary earlier this week, Anna Chakvetadze is still scheduled to arrive in Sydney sometime during the next [...]
Bad news about Anna Chakvetadze. I think the best to forget it, is playing tennis all over the world.
nice things from Anna:
http://www.annachakvetadze.com