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In early 1993, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that there were over 5,000 organized crime groups operating in Russia.
These groups consisted of about 100,000 members and 18,000 leaders. Although Russian authorities have currently identified over 5,000 criminal groups in the country, Russian officials believe that only about 300 of them have any identifiable structure.
Organized crime groups in Russia are not nearly as structured as those in the US.
Like any other organized crime group, Russian gangs have strict guidelines that, if not followed, can lead to death. The Russians have a Code of Conduct for Thieves. The Code has 18 rules and all of them ensure the protection of its members and the fraternity.
The Federation of American Scientists published a list of those rules:
1 – Give up your family – mother, father, brothers, sisters…
2 – He has no family of his own – no wife, no children; however, this does not prevent him from having a lover.
3 – Never, under any circumstances, do not work, no matter how difficult this brings – live only on the funds collected from theft.
4 – Help other thieves – with moral and material support, using the thieves’ commune.
5- Keep secret information about accomplices’ whereabouts (ie neighborhoods, hideouts, safe houses, etc.).
6 – In unavoidable situations (if the thief is under investigation) take the blame for someone else’s crime; this buys the other person time off.
7 – Request the convening of an investigation to settle disputes in the event of a conflict between yourself and other thieves, or between thieves.
8 – If necessary, participate in such trials.
9 – To carry out the punishment for the criminal thief according to the decision of the convocation.
10 – Do not resist the execution of the decision on punishing the thief who has been declared guilty, with the punishment determined by the summons.
10 – Have a good command of thieves’ jargon (“Fehnay”).
11 – Don’t gamble without being able to cover your losses.
12 – Teach the craft to young beginners.
13 – Have, if possible, informers from the ranks of thieves.
14 – Don’t lose your judgment when you use alcohol.
15 – Have nothing to do with the authorities
16 – Not to participate in public activities, nor to join any social organization.
17 – Do not take weapons from the hands of the authorities, do not serve in the army.
18 – Fulfill promises made to other thieves
The criminal world in Russia after the collapse of the USSR, during which it flourished, became at least diverse despite the enthroned criminal canons created in the 1930s.
All those “bosses”, better known in Russia as “thieves in law” (vori v zakone), today are respectable people who live in their mansions, control huge businesses and are extremely influential.
Kurir.rs/irp.fas.org
Courier
