ABSTRACT
In independent countries of the former Soviet Union, criminologists, political scientists, and sociologists are in unanimous agreement that organized crime and corruption are the major and perhaps the most important factors hindering economic, political, and social development. The Russian criminal world has a strict hierarchy that represents a three-layer organization, including government officials, businesspeople, and gangsters. In Russia, a discussion of white-collar crime does not make sense without discussing organized crime. In recent years, the conflict between the Slavs and ethnic groups has become very intense and complicated. Within a criminal organization, nationality and ethnicity do not usually play an important role, but it has always been an issue between the criminal groups. Russian law enforcement is well informed regarding the activity of criminal groups and is often interested in the deadly conflicts between them. Organized crime allocates huge financial resources for merging with legal, social, and political institutions.
