Newly crowned “thief-in-law” released from Krasnoyarsk prison

One of the “thieves-in-law” will be released today from the Minusinsk prison of the Krasnoyarsk region. Condemned in 2001 in Moscow for illegal drugs storage, the native of Georgia, within 7 years has made a career from a regular prisoner up to the prison "Supervisor" thus reviving tradition (forgotten in the last ten years) of “thief-in-law coronation” in prisons.

Shota Raminashvili, or Lasha Tskhvediani, known in criminal world as Lasha Samtredskiy was transferred into the Minusinsk prison from the Vladimir central prison where on October 22, 2008 he had a “thief approach” from “thieves-in-law” who were imprisoned there - Avto Kopala, Vitalya Tbilisskiy and Merab Sukhumskiy. Prior to coronation Raminashvili was a “Supervisor” of the Vladimir prison and thus he knew how to communicate with prison management. Nevertheless, the new “thief-in-law”, appeared within the walls of the central prison strongly struck the prestige of its administration which should decrease number of “thieves-in-law” but not increase.

In the beginning of 2009 with the purpose of “correctional education” Lasha was conveyed to the Minusinsk prison which is famous for much more strict regulations of imprisonment as well as for accumulated experience of “thieves-in-law” decoronation. At the beginning there were rumors that Raminashvili had given a written waiver from thief traditions as a result of correctional education, as well as another “thief-in-law”, Zviad Dzhincharadze, known as Gorilla, however, according to the latest data, Lasha managed to preserve his mafia title in full.

At present moment, four “thieves-in-law” are kept in the Minusinsk prison as the Prime Crime News Agency reported. After Raminashvili is released from the prison, his holy place will not be empty for a long time as notorious mafia boss Merab Bakhia, known as Bakha-Bakha, prepares to join the rows of Krasnoyarsk "krytniks" (“imprisoned”), going to be transferred to the prison regime from the Republic of Udmurtia.

Armenian “thief-in-law” arrested by Czech police

Yesterday Department for combating organized crime (ÚOOZ) of the Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs reported on detention of four Armenian criminals including one “thief-in-law” in Prague. Four criminals were arrested on March 23 during "Volfram" police operation. The fifth criminal was caught in Slovenia. For investigation purposes, names of the detained criminals are kept secret.

The criminal group was involved mainly in leasing crimes in the territory of the Czech Republic and neighboring Austria as the police stated. Furthermore, its leading ‘thief-in-law’ is suspected to have participated in organization of murder of “Sazka” Company driver as well as in attempted murder of Armenian businessman in Prague in November 2007.

On November 13 on the Wenceslas Square the criminals shot with a knife and wounded the Armenian businessman and escaped from the crime scene, and on November 27 they by mistake shot the driver of Bentley who was driving the same automobile as the assumed victim. One of the murderers has not been detained until now, two others have been kept in prison since December 2007 and November 2008.

The detained “thief-in-law” is Andranik Sogoyan, 40, known in criminal world as Zap (this nickname was given to him for resemblance with one of the first models of soviet cars – Zaporozhets), as the Prime Crime News Agency reported. According to investigative information, Andranik Sogoyan, born in Leninakan, was crowned as “thief-in-law” in 1994 in Moscow upon recommendation of “thief-in-law” Nigal Barsegyan, known as Nikol.

In September 2006 Zap was detained in Sochi casino "Rio" together with “thief-in-law” Temuri Mirzoev. He was accused of illegal stay in the territory of the Russian Federation. In December 2006 upon resolution of the Khostinsky district Court of Sochi, Sogoyan was deregistered from place of registration and next year in April he was deported to Armenia with prohibition of entrance to Russia for five years. Sogoyan moved from Armenia to the Czech Republic. If the Court proves his guilt in preparation of murder, he can get up to 25 years of imprisonment.

In Moscow Thief-In-Law Commited Theft In The Presence Of Policemen

On April 15 during the operation of Moscow investigation department, a 46-year old ”thief-in-law” Igor Glaznev was arrested. He is more famous among criminals as Vova Piterskiy. "Thief-in-law" committed a crime in the presence of policemen who had been following him secretly all day long. Having bought goods in the "Sedmoy continent" supermarket at the corner of Arbat and Smolenskaya square, Vova Piterskiy passed by the cashdesk and did not pay for the products in the amount of 15 000 rubles. We remind that on April 9 Georgian ”thief-in-law” Teymuraz Jalagonia was arrested in the “Perekryostok” supermarket under the same circumstances.

According to Prime Crime News Agency, the criminal career of Igor Glaznev, that led him to the “thief crown”, began in 1982 with the sentence of the military court of Alma-Ata Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic – the future ”thief-in-law” was sentenced to 4 years of prison for malignant hooliganism. In 1991, in Kaliningrad Glaznev was charged of 5 articles of the criminal code: theft, robbery, robbery with extreme violence and swindle and sentenced to 10 years of a strict control penal colony in the Arkhangelsk region. On March 6, 1994, Glaznev got a short vacation from which he did not return. In the course of 1.5 years he was searched by police but it did not prevent him from active criminal activity. Glaznev was arrested in Moscow in August 1995 with the passport of Vladimir Razumovskiy, born in Leningrad (that is why he got this nickname) for taking a hostage and demanding money for his liberation.

On January 17, 1998, during the morning check in the Trial center No. 1 of Moscow Prison “Matrosskaya Tishina”, in one of the cells the body of the Kurganskaya group leader Oleg Nelubin was found who died of several brain injuries. The special group of the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to the conclusion that Igor Glaznev who was at the same trial center, could take part in the murder organization. Despite this fact, the blame of Glaznev was not proved because one of the prisoners accused of several murders took the blame.

After the murder of Nelubin who had been sentenced by the criminal world for the deaths of several ‘thieves-in-law’, career of Vova Piterskiy began to develop successfully. In April, Glaznev was sentenced to 9.5 years of a strict control convict colony and transported to the Republic of Komi where he was supported by local ”thief-in-law” Pichuga. In January 1999, two persons from Moscow, who brought a letter about the positive decision of his question, were arrested. One year after the murder of Oleg Nelubin, Igor Glaziev declared himself ”thief-in-law” with the nickname Vova Piterskiy.

On getting the “title”, Glaznev who caused many problems for the authorities of the colony became unmanageable. In October 1999, Vova Piterskiy was sent to the prison of Dimitrovgrad for 3 years. In the new place, Glaznev not only refused to change his behavior but began to provoke riots among other prisoners. Being a prominent leader of the group of prisoners with negative behavior, Vova Piterskiy promulgated “thief traditions” and treated in a hostile way the administration of the prison who could nether reform him nor undermine his authority. After the end of his prison term, he was sent to Komi. In June 2004, Vova Piterskiy was released 8 months before the expiration of his term because of the criminal legislation change.

Only during the last month, Igor Glaznev who was always very careful, was mentioned in the police reports 3 times. On March 6, he was arrested in the Noginskiy district with Georgiy Sorokin, ”thief-in-law” nicknamed “Zhora Tashkentskiy”, on April 2 – with another “colleague” – Alexey Zabavin nicknamed “Zabava”. In the both cases he was released because policemen were rather interested in his comrades, but last Wednesday the succession of his “casual” arrests stopped.

"Crowned" Prisoner Of Madrid Prison Is On Hunger Strike

Recently Vitaliy Izgilov being under examination has been sent from the prison of Saragosa, famous for its relatively mild control to the prison of Madrid famous for its strict order. To show his protest, he began a hunger-strike and he had been starving for two weeks. He lost 7 kilos and he is under the care of doctors, "Rosbalt" reported.

As Prime Crime News Agency informed before, Vitaliy Izgilov, more famous among criminals as Zver (Russian for the Beast) or Vitalik Makhachkalinskiy was arrested on June 13, 2008 in a resort place Alikante during the police operation "Troyka". The “thief-in-law” was accused of money-laundering.

The former leader of the Vidnovskaya criminal group Vitaliy Izgilov is one of the nearest supporters of Zakhar Kalashov, a ”thief-in-law” having nickname “Shakro the Young” who is under examination for more than two years in one of the prisons of Spain.

In September 2005, Izgilov was arrested by the gendarmerie in the airport of Barselona on a charge of money laundering, but he was let out on a big money bail.

Georgian Mafia Boss Got His Sentence in the Moscow region

Yesterday Mytischi City Court announced sentence to 51 year-old former “thief-in-law” Vladimir Kokhreidze, known as Butkhuz. He was accused of illegal drug keeping and false document usage. The prosecutor tried to get to the sentence of 1 year imprisonment for Kokhreidze meanwhile the defender insisted on his defendant being guiltless and demanded relief during the procedure. As a result, the judge agreed with the accusation and sentenced Kokhreidze to one-year imprisonment. Butkhuz is not going to appeal the case, as his relatives reported to the Prime Crime News Agency. Counting the period that Kokhreidze has already spent in prison during investigating and trial procedures, he has got a little more than 5 months left in prison.

Vladimir Kokhreidze was detained last year, on September 25, during joint operation of Intelligence Bureau of State Department of Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federaion in Central Federal Region and State Department of Internal Affairs of the Moscow region, as the Prime Crime News Agency reported earlier. During personal search of Kokhreidze, 0.81 g of heroin was found and confiscated as well as passport of the Russian Federation citizen issued in 2008 by the Staropromyslovskiy Department of Internal Affairs of Chechnya Republic. After the check by Federal Migration Service the mentioned passport was considered to be illegally issued and confiscated. Criminal case was initiated against Kokhreidze under two clauses of the Russian Federation Criminal Code.

Besides, it was stated that Vladimir Kokhreidze has been wanted by the Khashursky Regional Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia since 2004 for illegal drug storage. As it may happen, after relief from prison Butkhuz will be deported to Georgia as he does not have any legal authority to stay in the territory of the Russian Federation.

Former Criminal Watcher of the Stavropolspkiy Kray Detained in Moscow

Moscow, Sunday: 45 year-old “thief-in-law” Vladimir Zhurakovskiy, more known as Vova Pukhliy (“Vova Plumpy”) was detained duing joint operation of Moscow Criminal Search Department and Department of Criminal Search of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. The criminal general was caught not far from the “Dolls” night club in Krasnaya Presnya. During personal search of Zhurakovskiy 5.5 g of heroin was found.

Having been several times in prison, Zhurakovskiy previously held position of criminal watcher in the region of Caucasian Mineral Waters, as the Prime Crime News Agency reports. Right after conditional early relief in 2000 Pukhliy got a position of watcher in the city of Pyatigorsk, and next year in June he was crowned as “thief-in-law” upon recommendation of Ded Khasan. As they say, organizing of murder of one of Usoyan’s criminal enemies appeared to be a “pass” toward the criminal circle for Pukhliy.

In his patrimonial region Zhurakovskiy kept under control drug business, alcohol traffic from neighboring Northern-Caucasian republics and cargo transit in the territory of the Stavropolskiy Kray. In 2005 Pukhliy’s intensive activity was not to liking of influential mafia bosses. Zhurakovskiy did not show up at the criminal meeting which was called by Shakro Molodoy (Shakro the “Young”). As a result Zhurakovskiy was deprived of his status in his absence. Several months later Pukhliy moved to Moscow for permanent residence and, as they say, he settled down this matter and managed to get back his title.

Local ‘Thief-in-Law” Detained in Kazakhstan

On April 4 Policemen of Southern Directorate for Combating Organized Crime of the Almata region managed to detain 44-year-old Kazakhstan “thief-in-law” Serik Dzhamanaev, known in criminal world as “Golova” (Russian for “Head”) during operational search actions. The criminal “authority” was detained when he was hunting badgers, 15 km away from his native village Fabrichniy. Serik and his bodyguard tried to fight back to the officers of special “Arlan” group but as a result failed.

During personal search the officers found and confiscated 1.75 g of heroin. By the way Serik’s fellow countrymen strongly refused to help the policemen and participate as attesting witnesses. As a result the mafia boss was finally sent to the temporary detention facility, the police initiated criminal procedure.

Serik Dzhamanaev is suspected to be a participant in kidnapping of Oralgaysha Omarshanova, journalist of “Zakon and Pravosudie” newspaper (in Russian means “Law and Justice”), who was an authorized agent of Golova, as the Chairman of Criminal Police Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan says. That was right after the kidnap in 2007 when Dzhamanaev disappeared from police’s field of vision.

Serik Dzhamanaev, after already several times in prison, was crowned as “thief-in-law” on May 26, 1996 in the city of Sochi as the Prime Crime News Agency reports. At the mafia bosses’ meeting the prospect boss was represented by notorious criminal authority Alexander Klauzer, known as Nemets (that means “German” in Russian). As it is said, later in July the Caucasian bosses did not accept crowning of Golova as if it had been performed with breaching of mafia traditions.

Notwithstanding this fact in police archives Golova is known not only as a crowned “thief-in-law” but also as the leader of criminal group “Bashka” (Russian colloquial word for “Head”) which was mostly involved in racketeering. In his native region Serik Dzhamanaev is considered to be one of the most influential criminal authorities with broad criminal connections in Kazakhstan as well as abroad.

Georgian "Thief-In-Law” Arrested Red-Handed For A Theft In A Supermarket

Yesterday in the South-West of Moscow, policemen of the Criminal Investigation Department of Moscow detained 48-year-old Georgian “thief-in-law” Teymuraz Jalagonia, more famous among criminals as Timur or Chinchkhlia. The ”thief-in-law” was arrested when he attempted to steal a bottle of elite wine in the “Perekrestok” supermarket in Golubinskaya street. A criminal proceeding was initiated in respect of Jalagonia in compliance with part 1 art. 158 of the RF Criminal Code.

As per the data of Prime Crime News Agency, Teymuraz Jalagonia, a repeated offender born in Batumi, is an active supporter of Tariel Oniani in his conflict with the crime clan of Lasha Shushanashvili. Timur has something to pay the Tbilisi “thieves-in-law” back. In 1990, upon arrival in one of the convict colony of Georgia, the “thief-in-law” criminal status of Jalagonia was not acknowledged by Paata Chlaidze, another “thief-in-law” who was there. Since that time, Timur has been pursued by the reputation related with his doubtful “thief-in-law” status.

Jalagonia is well-known to the police special agents of Moscow too. In September 1999, the agents of CRUBOP (Central Regional Department of Organized Crime Control) arrested him with a dose of heroin. Till last summer, Chinchkhlia was rather “quiet” before he appeared at the “thieves-in-law meeting” on the Klyazma River.

Among the participants of the “meeting” only Jalagonia attracted attention by his inadequate behavior. They say that before the assault of the vessel (where the “meeting” took place) Timur was under the influence of drugs and when he heard the signal of police siren he drank cognac to conceal his drug intoxication by the alcoholic one. When the Special Forces appeared, he could neither walk independently nor stand. Stripping in front of the camera to his underwear, he affirmed his status and demonstrated his “thief stars” on the shoulders and knees. That time he was chancy and his arrest did not cause him any unpleasant consequences.

In a month and a half, Chinchkhlia appeared again among the supporters of Tariel Oniani, but in a closer circle. In the bathhouse of the “Bacara” casino, he was arrested with Tariel himself and the thieves Tamaz and Chika. This time Jalagonia was sober and behaved with dignity and the degree of personal authority of his companions made the special agents look at him closer.

“Thief-in-law” Armen Kazaryan Detained in Erevan

On April 7 Mafia boss Armen Kazaryan, 44, known as Pzo in criminal spheres, was detained in Erevan, upon arrival from the USA.

Former prisoner Armen Kazaryan, born in Erevan, was crowned in 1991 in Rostov-na-Donu in the presence of such mafia bosses as Kirpich (Russian for “Brick”) and Artyusha, as the Prime Crime News Agency reports. Upon current data, Pzo is considered to be the leader of organized criminal group which is involved in illegal guns, gems and rare-earth metals sale as well as drug business, kidnapping and racketeering.

Two Armenian “thieves-in-law” Abo and Leva were killed on the federal road Rostov-Moscow in December 1993. Armen Kazaryan was a suspect in this case however he managed to escape any punishment as well as in the case of detain in Moscow, same year, when he was a suspect in a group assault related to robbery. In 1995 Pzo himself appeared to be just one millimeter from death when criminal authority Ishkhan Sarkisyan (who had taken part in crowning of Kazaryan) was shot from sniper rifle.

In the beginning of 1998 Armen Kazaryan moved to the USA trying to escape revenge of deceived Dagestan Organized Criminal Groups’ leaders. Pzo received permit for residence in the USA without any problems and bought some property in Los Angeles. In autumn 1999 Armen Kazaryan came back to his country after some conflict in a casino. Once appeared in Erevan he and his friend Armen Manukyan, also “thief-in-law”, known as Seva, were immediately detained as suspects for illegal gun keeping. Though the case was stopped in a week due to insufficient evidence.

But this time Armenian Police are strongly determined to bring Kazaryan to court notwithstanding broad corruption relations of the latter. However, Armenian mass media, already foretasting approaching end of the conflict, has mentioned Kazaryan’s friendship with brother of Armenian President, Sashik Sargsyan, who had also settled in the USA.

Georgian “thief-in-law” detained in one of Russia ancient cities

On the night from 3 to 4 April in the city of Uglich of the Yaroslavl Region the Operational Investigation Department of the Russian Chief Police Department for the Central Federal District detained a 44-year old Georgian “thief-in-law” Tengiz Luarsabishvili known in the criminal world as Tengo Rustavskiy. The criminal general was arrested in “Stary Gorod” restaurant at Yarosvskaya street. 8 polyethylene bags with heroin exceeding 25 g was found during personal search. A criminal case was started under the fact of drug finding against Luarsabishvili under part 2 of Article 228 of the RF Criminal Code. Measure of restraint is being decided now.

According to Prime Crime News Agency Tengiz Luarsabishvili born in Georgian city Rustavi was “enthroned” in Tbilisi in 1986. In Moscow Tengo was twice brought to trial for illegal drug storage both due to the efforts of the Operational Investigation Department of the Russian Chief Police Department for the Central Federal District. The first time he was detained in Arbat in August 2000 along with another “thief-in-law” Elgudzha Kavelashvili. 3 g of heroin was found with both “thieves-in-law”. The court decided to sentence Tengo to 6 months of prison. The next meeting of the “shabolovskiy” with Luarsabishvili was in October 2003 when 1.8 g of hashish was found with him.

Half a year before that arrest Tengo came to Georgia to the burial of his “thief-in-law” friend Georgiy Dzhanezashvili nicknamed Amberkich who was shot dead in St. Petersburg. Luarsabishvili was accompanied by little known claimant to “thief-in-law title” Vasiliy Stanchu. In Tbilisi Vasia Moldovan was introduced for the first time to Lasha Shushanashvili however, he did not approve the claimant which somewhat hurt the pride of Luarsabishvili. Only in November last year Stanchu became “thief-in-law” with the help of Lasha along with ten other most loyal thieves.

Since then Tengo avoided the crime register. The last time Luarsabishvili was seen in January this year when Tengo was the chief administrator at the burial of another Rustavi “thief-in-law” Rauli Kiria who died of hepatic cirrhosis in pre-trial detention center in the city of Voronezh.

Tengiz Luarsabishvili spent only a few months in prison for over 20 years of “thief” career. He never before faced a more severe punishment than now. If Tengo is found guilty he may serve from 3 to 7 years in prison.