When people from western countries view Russia, all that they may see is an unbalanced nation with a bankrupt economy, and a failing government. Times in Russia seem to be often tumultuous, and it is looked at as amazing sometimes that life can continue to exist in such conditions. People do survive though; people are able to find a whole array of ways in which to make money and survive through dire conditions. The organized crime syndicate in Russia appears to be a true impairment to the Russian society as a whole from every conceivable angle. However, in actuality organized crime is one of the only stable sources of income for many people. In fact the Russian mafia and the corrupt government officials affiliated with organized crime, have for all practical purposes been in charge of running Russia throughout the 90's. Russia is being run by the mafia; the mafia is helping to supply millions of people with an extra income to help them survive.

"Over 10 million families now own their own apartments, and 40 million Russian's have plots of land. Despite falls of about 50 percent in real incomes" (Bush 58). If the real income has fallen of late in Russia, then how are these 50 million people

"If Americans are fascinated by organized crime because there is so much that is dark and conspirational about it, they should also be interested in it because of its extensive influence on our politics and economy" (Moquin 6). The Russians also have a great fascination with organized crime. Russians should be very interested in it because the politics, and the economy are being run in all manner but name by the mafia. Russian crime novels are the newest sell out items in Russian stores recently. The rising star of Russian criminal fiction is Aleksandra Mariana. Mariana is quoted as saying "my heroine always solves the crime, and sometimes my villains do go to prison. But not always, that would be too unbelievable" (Stanley 2). The bitter truth of Russian law enforcement is that the 'villains' do not always go to jail. Russian prisons have become dangerously overcrowded with ordinary murderers, car thieves, and low level criminals. Nevertheless, the corrupt government officia!

ies who are motivated in today's time, were similarly motivated in communist times, through financial means.

President Yeltsin has been quoted as saying that Russia had developed into 'the superpower of crime' (Stanley 1).The mafia can be blamed for much of what is wrong in Russia. The mafia intimidates small businesses, commits outrageous crimes, and at times is wealthier than the Russian government. From 1994 to the present, there has been no overwhelming evidence that the Russian government has been able to curb the actions of the mafia. The activities of organized criminals of late are now more overt than ever, this is because of the supreme power that the mafia is able to exert. "After years of debriefing by U.S. intelligence officials following his defection to America in 1992, former Russian spy Stanislav Lunev has gone public with stark assertions adding up to this claim: The Cold War still rages and his previous country is more dangerous than ever" (Gannet News 4). Lunev elaborated on several reasons for the mafia to have grown so powerful so quickly after the fall of Commu!

Goodman, Walter. "Hockey suspicions and time fantasies." New York Times 12 October 1999: E8.

Bohlen, Celestine. "To Sicilians, Russia Has No Mafia. It's Too Wild." New York Times Week in Review 10 January 1999: 1.

now owning homes or properties? The answer is that the Russian mafia supplies millions of people with an extra income for their respective involvements in organized crime. There are a whole array of people under pay of the mafia; a large percentage of the government officials of Russia are in the employment of the mafia. These crooked Russian government officials perform many tasks for their pay. Many of their tasks include cover-ups, ignoring crimes, and helping with extortion. The people that do oppose working for the mafia are few, and their intentions are not fully understood by others. They are never able to receive much support and many of them are eventually forced to work for the mafia.

"The worst injuries sustained by Russia's sportsmen and women are rarely inflicted in action" (Whitehouse 29). Whitehouse notes as well the cases of injury coming to athletes who refuse to pay extortion money to the mafia. There are several examples on record in Russia concerning the unfortunate fate of athletes who have resisted the mafias attempt at extortion. One of the most vile examples, of the blatant disregard the mafia has of morals was when Oleg Veretennikov, Rotor Volgograd's leading football player, was sprayed with acid in the middle of broad daylight last year; his two year old daughter was also injured in the attack. Igor Malkiv, an Olympic speed skating champion, had his arm broken when he apparently refused an attempt at extortion, much like Veretennikov did. "Up to 80 percent of Russian hockey stars living in North America are believed to make extortion payments to the Russian mafia," (Amiel 7).

Whitehouse, Tom. "Russian roulette with th

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Approximate Word count = 2725
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)