Organitskaya

The Organitskaya is the "Russian" mafia from the New USSR.

Background
In the new Soviet Union, organized crime is one of the most organized, powerful forces. The feeble attempts to move from socialism to a market economy and to democratize was a boom for the smuggling and black market gangs. Organized crime is now so entrenched in the Soviet Union that law enforcement won't take any action unless there is a mob war. The Organitskaya have become a state within a state, with its own armies and collecting its own taxes (Schutzgeld).

Activities
In the new Soviet Union, the Organitskaya are into smuggling and dealing in weapons, technology, food, aerodynes, computers, automobiles, and western cyberware. Depending on the syndicate, they may or not be involved in the drug trade. Fortunately for both the state and the citizens the Organitskaya are not united and are usually either fighting each other for territory or the police, who attempt to contain the use of military-grade weaponry.

The "good" syndicates don't alienate the people by beating them, imposing protection rackets on them, or shooting them. In addition they stay away from arson and in some areas, drugs. They pay off the police and maintain amicable relations with them. Have agreements with rivals to keep collateral damage and innocent deaths to a minimum in mob wars. The "bad" syndicates are those who do the opposite, resulting that they have problems with the police, the citizenry, and the party. In Russia, the Organistkaya collect protection money from 80% of the businesses in Russia.

Within the new Soviet Union, the reach of the Russian Mafia reaches extends deeply into the ministries in charge of making decisions about building sites, state contracts, and so on. The corruption from this extends far and wide, that in some locations the Organitskaya is for all intents and purposes the state.

Organization
Within the new Soviet Union, the Organitskaya have over 8000 syndicates with more than 180,000 members. In addition there are over 200 syndicates operating internationally with more than 10,000 members outside the new Soviet Union. The Russian Organitskaya is the most prolific organized crime group in Europe.

Major Groups

 * Golytsino Organitskaya (Moscow)
 * Karlanikha Organitskaya (Moscow)

Organitskaya in the Real World

 * Wikipedia: Vory V Zakone
 * Havocscope: Black Market Crime in Russia
 * Stratfor: Organized Crime in Russia
 * U.S. Dept of Justice: The Threat of Russian Organized Crime
 * Global Strategy: Russian Organized Crime

Organitskaya in the Media

 * Eastern Promises
 * Brother