Many people in Russia, let alone outside of it, have no idea that the ethnic Assyrian community in Russia, in spite of their relatively small numbers (up to 70,000 countrywide), have a powerful presence in the Russian and greater ex-Soviet criminal underworldI am not sure if this is something they are necessarily proud of lol But, anyway.Here, I mentioned the Kurdish mob in Russia: http://politicalhotwire.com/current-events/181113-clashes-between-peshmerga-iraqi-forces.html The Assyrians are distinct from them, although they work in a very similar way, relying on alliances with other gangs and syndicates of other ethnic groups to boost their man- and firepower. For example, many of the Azerbaijani drug gangs in Moscow today are known to be essentially employed by the Assyrian mafia.They also remain tight with some powerful Slavic gangs, such as the Solntsevskaya Bratva (see: http://politicalhotwire.com/world-politics/173756-wow-just-wow.html ), especially because the legendary late Thief in Law Vyacheslav Ivankov (on left, in glasses)was very close with the Assyrians even on a personal level: his devoted wife of many years, Lidya Ayvazova, sitting with him there, on left, is Assyrian, and is related to high-rankers within their syndicate tooIt's why one of his other nicknames in the mafia had been "Assyrian Son-in-Law", in approximate translation lolIvankov and his gang actually at one point allied with the Assyrians openly against another Slavic gang, the fearsome Orekhovskaya Bratva, who ambushed and killed three Assyrian bosses at a Moscow restaurant in 1995. Ivankov took violent revenge against them and threatened war against anyone who goes after the Assyrians again. Mess with them, mess with me, basically. I think it worked, at least for awhile lolHe was assassinated in 2009, but remains quite a revered figure in Russia, in certain circles heheAnyway, the Assyrian faction emerged way back in 1988, and was among the earliest "ethnic" (minority) criminal groups to compete with the also emerging Slavic Bratvas. Organized crime was spreading its wings everywhere then, as the central authority and law enforcement began to fall apart.Since then, they have grown quite rich and powerful indeed.Among other things, Vneshprombank, one of the biggest fully private banking chains in Russia (aside from the Top 3 controlled by Kremlin interests), until it was shut down late last year by the Central Bank for debt issues and various illegalitieswas actually established years ago by the Assyrian mob, to help them launder their money!The bank was co-owned by Georgy Bedzhamova "businessman", as all of them call themselves these days lol Recognized as rightful leader of the Assyrian Criminal Group today. His father, Avdysh Bedzhamov, aka Alik the Assyrian, was one of the bosses gunned down in that restaurant in back '95...He is a very prominent man, these days. Among other things, President of the National Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (I have no idea how that happened haha)Even was awarded medals at the KremlinLike Putin didn't know who the hell he was... hahaLast year, though, after the bank case exploded, a warrant was issued out for him and he fled the country and remains in exile for now. Not sure what will happen there.But, yeah, very interesting people, the Assyrians...