Structure and Composition
| "They're not carefully structured Cosa Nostra-type families... They're loose structures of networks, but they draw on people from a number of different areas." |
| — James Finckenauer, author of Russian Mafia In America |
Although most Russian criminal groups vary in their structure, there have been attempts at trying to figure out a model in how they work. One such model, which could be possibly out-dated structure, as it is based on the old style of Soviet criminal enterprises, works out like the following:
- Elite group: the leadership, oftentimes a vor or vory, manages and organizes plans for operations.
- Support group: they set specific tasks for subordinate groups or choose who does what task.
- Security group: they are in charge with security and intelligence.
- Working group: the individuals that actually carry out the crimes; they are often uninformed of the identity of the leadership.
Read more about this topic: Russian Mafia
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