Georgian “thieves-in-law” are the most influential

Yesterday, speaking at opening of a new police office in one of Tbilisi districts, President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili said that “Our major export to Russia is not wine but “thieves-in-law”. Now about 90% of organized crime leaders in Russia are our compatriots”.

Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs confirms that now over a half of 1,200 “thieves-in-law” are immigrants from Georgia. According to informed source in Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs only in Moscow reside about 100 Georgian “thieves-in-law” many of whom are either illegal residents or use forged documents.

According to Prime Crime News Agency group of Georgian “thieves-in-law” is not only the most numerous but also the most influential. Now no “thief-in-law” of Armenian, Azerbaijani or other nationality may compete with Georgian “thief-in-law” by their influence. It is also fully true about the so-called Slavonic “thief-in-law”. Famous Vyacheslav Ivankov, nicknamed Yaponchik (Jap), may be the only exception at least being equal in influence to Georgian “thieves-in-law”; however, even with Yaponchik one should not forget that according to rumours Yaponchik was “enthroned” with the help of Georgian “thief-in-law” Valerian Kuchuloria, nicknamed Piso, who at that time was a “watch dog” for Moscow criminal world.

On the other hand, Georgian “thieves-in-law” are different and strongly dissociated. The brightest example may be the conflict of “thief clans” of Tariel Oniani who united under his aegis Sukhumi and Kutaisi families on the one hand, and the leader of Tbilisi “thief family” Lasha Shushanashvili, on the other hand. Georgian “thief-in-law” may also be characterized by their division into classic “thief” school and representatives of new formation.