Russian Mafia

Gangsters and criminals began to take over Russian societies in the 1900’s. It began with ‘vory v zakone’ or thieves-in-law who were leaders of the groups in the prisons. This was seen especially in the ‘Gulag’ or labour camps where Stalin sent criminals and political leaders for forced labour. These people formed larger groups and began ruling the criminal world. They refused to participate in any political activities and rejected any type of employment.
1917-1991: Soviet Union
The ‘Vory v Zakone’ revealed their elite status through special tattoos.
Stalin offered prisoners freedom if they participated in the World War II. Since working for the government was against the codes of the criminal groups the ones who went against it were ousted from the group and were called ‘suka’ (‘suki’ was referred to many).
The ‘suki’ formed their groups with prison officials and got into comfortable positions.
‘Suka Wars’ were common between 1945 and 1953. The two groups fought amongst themselves and the officials in charge of the prison made no efforts to stop them.
8 million people were released from the ‘Gulags’ when Stalin died and the groups were broken. Illegal business was common in 1970’s and black market boomed.
Meanwhile Brighton Beach, USA became famous for the first Russian crime committed by the ‘Potato Bag Gang’. The head of crimes in Brighton Beach was Evsei Agron. He was a Russian Godfather and was feared in US.
Evsei Agron was very powerful and had several enemies and the top amongst them was Boris Goldberg who was an ex-army officer from Russia. Goldberg was an Israeli. Evsei Agron was shot dead when he was 58.
Marat Balagula was Agron’s successor and soon Boris Nayfield took over his place. Nayfeld was bodyguard to Evsei Agron and Marat Balagula.