Cape Town politicians on long list of Yuri "The Russian" Ulianitski's partners-in-crime

Police are set to question several Cape Town politicians in connection with the death of Yuri "The Russian" Ulianitski.

The local politicians are on a long list of Ulianitski's alleged partners-in-crime, and also his known enemies, which police are investigating.

Ulianitski - one of the city's most feared underworld figures - died in a hail of bullets during a late night ambush in Milnerton on Tuesday. He was hit 20 times in his chest and his four-year-old daughter, Yulia, died after being shot in the head.

His wife Irina was shot four times and is in a stable condition at the Milnerton Medi-Clinic.

Police sources have told the Cape Argus that several city politicians are alleged to have dealt with his bidding for several multi-million rand property deals up for grabs in the city area.

Sources have confirmed that Ulianitski had an interest in buying buildings in the city's CBD.

Police who are following up on the long list of his known enemies, just one avenue in the complex investigation, are probing speculation that his politician friends were apparently trying to help him buy these buildings.

It is understood that the relationship between Ulianitski and the politicians had soured after they had reneged on a deal to deliver tenders.

Police sources say that before his death, he had allegedly threatened to make public the names of the politicians he had been dealing with.

The sources, however, were reticent about naming the politicians.

Ulianitski, dubbed "Yuri The Russian", was owner of The Castle strip club in Castle Street which employed women from Russia, China and other countries.

Ulianitski, who came to South Africa from the Ukraine, also owned a kick-boxing club in Cape Town and recently opened a cage fighting gym.

He lived at The Bay near Table View and was believed to have been going home from a restaurant when his Audi Q7 4x4 was attacked at the intersection of Otto du Plessis Drive and Loxton Road by the occupants of a white Toyota Tazz.

Police sources yesterday said that Ulianitski "had lots of enemies". He had been convicted of illegal gambling.

He was also a long-time associate of disgraced former racehorse owner and fashion boss Mark Lifman. Lifman was banned for life from the horse racing industry after he and Ulianitski assaulted veteran jockey Freddie Macaskill when he refused to fix a race.

Ulianitski is said to have had close links with a General Dos Santos of Angola, who funded him to the tune of millions in return for "favours".

José Eduardo dos Santos, Dictator of Angola, Liar, Thief & Murderer in Power Unelected for the last 27 years and counting, running Terror MPLA Regime

He arrived in South Africa in the early 1980s as part of a Russian team of kick-boxers. The South African government at the time requested him to stay behind and train South African fighters.

Ulianitski later started a security company with controversial businessman Cyril Beeka in Cape Town.

The pair also opened several nightclubs along the Atlantic seaboard and the city's central business district in the 1990s.

Ulianitski had a long history of brushes with the law.

At the time of his death he had been out on R30 000 bail in connection with allegations of conspiracy to kidnap, possession of illegal firearms and drugs and other offences.