Some groups in Russia do bad things. They work in big teams. They want to make money in unfair ways. This has happened for a long time. It is important to follow the rules. Do you think rules help us stay safe?
Many groups in Russia work together to break rules. They are often called the Russian mafia. These groups want to make money in unfair ways. Some groups are named after the places where they live.
Long ago, some leaders had a special code. They had many tattoos to show their rank. They did not want to work with the law.
In the 1990s, these groups grew much larger. This happened because the country was changing. They began to trade goods across many lands.
Some groups even worked with the state. The leaders used these groups to help the country. This was a way to get things done.
Today, these groups are still very large. They are a big part of the world. It is important to follow the rules.
The term "Russian mafia" describes many crime groups. These groups come from Russia. They are often called "Bratva," which means brotherhood. Some groups have names from their cities.
Long ago, some leaders followed a strict code. They were called "Thieves in Law." These leaders had many tattoos. The tattoos showed their rank and history. These men refused to work with the law.
In the 1990s, these groups grew very fast. This happened after the Soviet Union fell apart. The country faced many money problems. Criminals began to trade goods across Europe. They moved things like heroin to make money.
Over time, their work changed. They became skilled at helping other groups. They did not try to rule every land. Instead, they provided services to others.
Today, these groups are a global network. They are very well organized. The Russian government sometimes uses these groups. The state uses them to help reach goals. This is a way to get things done. The groups work for profit. They stay active all over the world.
The term "Russian mafia" describes a large network of crime groups. These groups come from Russia and other former Soviet lands. People often call them "Bratva," which means brotherhood. This word shows that members feel a sense of group loyalty. Experts also use the term "Organized Criminal Group" or OPG. Some groups have specific names based on where they live. For example, the Solntsevskaya Bratva comes from the Solntsevo District in Moscow.
Inside these groups, there are different levels of importance. The most elite members are called "Vory v Zakone." This means "Thieves in Law." These leaders must follow a very strict moral code. They are expected to refuse any help from the government. Many of these men use tattoos to show their rank. These tattoos tell the story of their personal history. They also show that the person follows the criminal code.
This criminal world has a very long history in Russia. In the 1700s and 1700s, gangs were led by bandit chieftains. Later, in the 1900s, groups focused on political goals. By the 1930s, the government used harsh rules to stop them. A new kind of criminal world grew during this time. These people wanted to disobey the authorities. In the 1940s, many criminals joined the Red Army to fight Nazis. After the war, a conflict called the "Bitch Wars" began in the camps.
Things changed a lot in the 1960s and 1980s. In the 1960s, people used personal connections to get goods. This was called "blat." By the late 1980s, Mikhail Gorbachev led reforms called "perestroika." These changes helped criminal groups grow even more. When the Soviet Union collapsed in the 1990s, the groups expanded fast. They moved goods like Afghan heroin across Europe. They also worked in hotels, gambling, and exporting raw materials.
Today, these groups are a globalized network. They are very well organized and work in many countries. Some experts say they work like a military group. They often act as helpers for other large crime organizations. The Russian government also has a complex relationship with them. The state sometimes uses these groups to help reach political goals. This is a practical way for the state to work. The groups focus on making profit while staying active worldwide.
The term "Russian mafia" is a broad label for a complex network of organized crime. These groups originated in Russia and other former Soviet republics. They are not one single organization. Instead, they function as a loose network of autonomous groups. These groups have their own leaders, codes, and areas of influence. Experts often refer to them as Organized Criminal Groups, or OPGs. Some people use the term OCG to mean organized crime groups. These groups can be very large and highly organized. They have become a globalized network that operates across many different borders.
Within these structures, there are specific names and hierarchies. One central concept is the "Vory v Zakone," which means "Thieves in Law." This is an elite, high-ranking status within the criminal world. These individuals follow a strict moral code. They are expected to reject any cooperation with state authorities. They often use extensive tattoos to communicate their status. These tattoos represent their personal history and their commitment to the code. Another common term is "Bratva," which translates to "brotherhood." This term is more colloquial and shows group solidarity. It does not necessarily mean a person has a specific high rank.
Many groups are identified by their regional origins. For example, the Solntsevskaya Bratva comes from the Solntsevo District in Moscow. The Tambovskaya Bratva comes from the Tambov Oblast. The Izmaylovskaya gang comes from the Izmaylovo District. While these groups may operate independently, they often form alliances. They may also compete with one another based on economic interests. Law enforcement agencies use technical terms like OPG or OPS to classify them. OPS stands for "organized crime community." These terms are used in legal and investigative work to prosecute these organizations.
The history of Russian crime began with political banditry. In the 17th and 18th centuries, peasant gangs were led by bandit chieftains. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, groups pursued political goals. These included revolutionary and counter-revolutionary activities. By the early 1930s, the state suppressed these political groups with harsh measures. This led to a new criminal world based on disobedience to authority. This group created its own language, known as "fenya." They also developed customs that rejected all social norms. This included a ban on having permanent relationships with women.
In the 1940s, the criminal social structure changed during the Great Patriotic War. Many criminals joined the Red Army to fight the Nazi threat. When the war ended, a conflict called the "Bitch Wars" broke out in the camps. This was a struggle between different criminal factions. Many people lost their lives during these wars. After the war, the economic situation in the Soviet Union became very difficult. This led to an increase in general crime. New prisoners did not feel the need to follow old traditions. They were more willing to cooperate with the state for mutual benefit.
During the 1950s and 1960s, the Soviet planned economy began to struggle. People used "blat," which means using personal connections to get goods. They also used "eyewash," or deliberate deception, to succeed. This era saw the rise of "pushers" who specialized in securing scarce goods. In the mid-1960s, organized crime began to emerge as a social phenomenon. Criminals began to work with "Tsekhoviks," who were illegal producers. This created a symbiotic relationship where criminals protected shadow entrepreneurs. This period also saw a connection between the political elite and the criminal world.
The late 1980s brought major changes under Mikhail Gorbachev. His reforms, known as "perestroika," coincided with a new economic crisis. A campaign against alcohol led to a rise in illegal alcohol sales. This provided many new entrepreneurs with large amounts of money. As the Soviet Union collapsed in the 1990s, these criminal groups expanded rapidly. They anticipated political instability and economic collapse. They began to move goods like Afghan heroin across Europe. They also moved into the hotel business, gambling, and exporting raw materials.
Today, the Russian mafia is a highly organized and globalized network. Some experts, like Alain Bauer, describe them as having quasi-military operations. They often act as skilled intermediaries for other criminal organizations. They focus on providing services rather than just controlling territory. The relationship between the Russian state and these groups has also evolved. In the 1990s, the political elite and organized crime were closely intertwined. Now, the state tries to distance itself from direct associations. However, the government sometimes uses these networks as a geopolitical tool. They may enlist their services to meet specific interests of the state.
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