Organized Crime in Contemporary Russia

Russian authorities welcome the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative. However, Russian organized crime and corruption is usually not considered, and until now, there were no estimations of the potential harm and threat it poses to OBOR. Organized crime in Russia functions as a stable, hierarchical association engaged in business, politics, and systematic protection against public control by means of corruption. It is a form of business enterprise that is global and international in nature, including between Russian and Chinese criminal groups, especially at the border regions. This chapter outlines three time periods and explains the development of Russian, Soviet, and post-Soviet organized crime. The contemporary period, with its unique particularities, is characterized by an amalgamation and union of criminal organizations, businesses (legal and semilegal), power structures, and law enforcement. Criminal authorities became city mayors and deputies in local organs of power. Many criminal organizations function under the reliable “krysha” (protection) of police bodies. The country is changing from “being criminalizing to being criminal”, and there is a high level of corruption on all levels of society. The impact of Russian organized crime on OBOR will be examined.