A 26-year-old Belarusian man escaped from...

Some said the 26 year-old Belarusian national scaled the outer prison wall, which was covered with razor wire, while others suggested he "jumped over the prison fence and the razor wire like a contestant at the Olympics."

Below are facts about the prison and escapes from it:

* Butyrka is one of Russia"s oldest penitentiary facilities. Though the modern building was constructed in 1879, the prison is mentioned in official documents which date back to the 17th century.

* Until early 20th century Butyrka was considered an "escape-proof" prison. Though there are rumors that revolutionary Felix Dzerzhinsky was the first inmate ever to escape the prison, but they have never been confirmed by official documents. According to the legend, the future Cheka (forerunner to the KGB) head left the jail after hiding inside a garbage container. How to recover Thunderbird email

A Cambodia-flagged cargo ship with 24 Russians...

The MV Victor freighter carrying a shipment of Japanese-made cars transmitted a distress signal shortly after leaving the Japanese port of Otaru for the city of Vladivostok in Russia"s Far East on Thursday.

A Russian coast guard patrol vessel has arrived at Victor"s location about 40 nautical miles from the Russian coast to monitor the ship"s condition and to ensure the safety of 19 crew members and five passengers until two rescue tugboats arrive in the area to tow the ship in distress to the nearest port.

A colleague of Russian Orthodox priest Daniil...

The attack occurred on Saturday as priest Vitaly Zubkov was on his way to the St. Thomas church. "Three men attacked me. They struck me down and kicked me. At first, they beat me on the head and legs," Zubkov said.

Kirill Frolov, a friend of Sysoyev, said the attack on Zubkov was hardly accidental "taking into account that Father Vitaly was a friend of murdered missionary Father Daniil Sysoyev and that there were no attempts to rob him."

A deputy commander of Tajikistan"s border...

Saymuddin Mirzoyev, 39, was detained in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, after being caught red-handed accepting a $15,000 bribe, the official told journalists.

Mirzoyev is being questioned in connection with a drug trafficking probe, the official said. Investigators also found that he had earlier received another $30,000 bribe, he added.

The Central Asian state of Tajikistan is a major gateway to Russia, other post-Soviet states and Europe for drugs from Afghanistan, which is the world"s leader in heroin production.