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Amid the political uncertainty that has engulfed the former Soviet Union since the end of the Cold War in 1991, rampant, unchecked organized crime has laid waste to noteworthy democratic reforms and contributed to an economic and moral meltdown within the 15 newly independent republics. Intelligence reports emanating out of Russia estimate the numerical size of the Russian Mafia ("mafiya") at about 100,000 direct members 600,000 indirect members.

Many of the bosses and main members of the Russian mafia are believed to be ex-Soviet Army and ex-KGB officers who lost their posts in the reduction of forces that began in 1993 after the end of the Cold War. It is also believed that some of the groups' enforcers are former Russian military. Russian mobsters also recruit athletes, including boxers, martial artists, and weightlifters. Spetsnaz members (Russian special forces) are also utilized by the mafia.

The Russian Mafia appears to be organized in similar ways to the KGB. A particularly brutal practice rumored to be utilized by the Russian Mafia is the killing of not only the individual who has "snitched" or turned against the organization as, but also the individual's family. The Russian mafia is notorious for underground operations and clean transactions, and, unlike certain vestiges of the Italian mafia, it is known for its secrecy and un-flamboyant manner.It uses more professional operatives to carry outdo the bulk of its activities.

The bosses are allegedly ex KGB (see above). Unlike other organized crime organizations where there is a semi-hereditary hierarchy, which often fragments after the death of leaders, the Russian Mafia works with a strict professional Hierarchy. It is often touted in the media that Russian Mafias are the best funded criminal organizations in the world, allegedly owning tanks, helicopters, planes, trains and armored pseudo-fortresses. Though the Russian Mafia's notorious secrecy and the lack of concrete evidence on the subject leaves this open to debate.

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