The Russian Mafia, at home and abroad

The event took place on May 3rd 2018 at the Institute of International Relations, Nerudova 3, Prague.

Is Russia, as some claim, a 'Mafia State'? How has Russian organised crime evolved, and how great a role does it play in that country's business and politics? Indeed, is it a threat in the Czech Republic and across Europe? In this public event, Prof. Mark Galeotti, a senior researcher at the IIR and the author of the new book 'The Vory: Russia's super mafia' (Yale University Press) will explore Russian organised crime past, present, and future.

The Vory: Russia’s Super Mafia

“The culmination of more than twenty-five years of writing on Russian organized crime, Vory is destined to become the standard work on the subject. It is instructive and shocking—and a pleasure to read.”—Federico Varese, author of Mafia Life

“To understand power in contemporary Russia, this is a must read.”—Misha Glenny, author of McMafia

“Galeotti lays bare the lattices of power and influence between official Russia and its criminal organizations. This is the best guide to understanding the workings of the Kremlin since Mario Puzo’s The Godfather.”—Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Former President of Estonia

“Gritty, historically grounded and superbly readable, this is an essential work by one of the most knowledgeable and dispassionate observers of contemporary Russia.”—Rachel Polonsky, author of Molotov’s Magic Lantern

“Galeotti writes with wit, clarity and authority about the grimly fascinating, and all-too-important, history of organized crime and its outsize role in shaping contemporary Russian society and government.”—Michael Weiss, CNN National Security Analyst

“The Vory masterfully combines the startling stories of Russian crime lords with deft and nuanced analysis— it terrifies yet deftly brings a sense of proportion to the problem.”—Peter Pomerantsev, author of Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible

“No one is better than Mark Galeotti when it comes to explaining the world of the vory and how it has evolved to the present day”—Charles Clover, author of Black Wind, White Snow