News Stories / Russian Mafia Study

In this following post I will reference a number of sources that relate to the Russian Mafia organisations allowing me to find context and get a better idea of the nature of crime.

'Many Russian organized crime groups in the United States have ties to organized crime groups in Russia. A report on organized crime presented to President Boris Yeltsin by Russia's Analytical Center for Social and Economic Policies, stated "The growth of organized crime threatens the political and economic development of Russia and creates conditions that could help bring the national socialists to power."

 

An estimated 80 percent of the private enterprises and commercial banks in Russia's major cities are forced to pay a tribute of 10 to 20 percent of their profits to organized crime.

 

On April 21, 1994, during a Senate hearing, CIA Director R. James Woolsey said, "Organized crime is so rampant in Russia that it threatens Boris Yeltsin's presidency and raises concern that syndicates will obtain and smuggle Russian nuclear weapons to terrorists or foreign agents."'

Gangland.net

 

From this study into the Russian Mafia's activities in Russia it becomes apparent just how dominant the clans are, they appear to corrupt and influence every sector in the Russian economy, it is an eye opener to how dangerous and well connected the clans are. This will influence the way I will depict the Mafia clan in my screenplay as they are a clever, well organised syndicate.

 

 

'The downfall of communism left an economic, moral and social vacuum which the mafia has been only too happy to fill.

Hundreds of ex-KGB men and veterans of the Afghan war veterans offered their skills to the crime bosses. The mafia also provided money and jobs to young men in Moscow, St Petersburg and Kiev who were struggling to cope following the collapse of the communist safety net.'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/03/98/russian_mafia/70095.stm


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This article is relevant to my concept as it shows the idea of the mafia offering jobs and money to people struggling with the tough economy, and somewhat justifies the decision to get involved with the mafia as it is essentially 'easy' money, despite being illegitimate, it is tough times to live in. The idea of the ex-servicemen offering services to the clan is an interesting idea I will follow, perhaps developing the Father to have those characteristics and backstory.

 

Script Concept

My concept can be defined as a typical Faustian plot, however I aim to focus more on the reasons why the ‘deal with the devil’ had to happen; exploring family bonds and how far someone would go to save a loved ones life. My idea is yet to be given a title but as the plot will involve a family member tragically being killed  the idea of calling it ‘Thicker than water’ came to fruition, with the idea being that the blood represents blood that will be spilled. The concept I have developed so far is inspired by the mystery and fear that surrounds the Russian Mafia, seeing an opportunity to show the audience some of the realistic brutalities some people are actually put through by these mass organised crime syndicates. 

INITIAL IDEA

Basing the script in modern-day Russia (Exact location yet to be confirmed) the story will by about a family of 3 (Mother, Father & Son), the living conditions they live in are extremely poor, the mother has an illness (illness yet to be defined) that disables her; making her unable to look after herself or her family, she is totally reliant upon her husband to pay for on going treatment, the only way he could possibly afford to take care of her is by working for the mafia and partaking in the more risky jobs set up by the mafia; through doing this he is tragically killed with the blame lying somewhere within the mafia. Now with his father dead and his mother deteriorating, the son (now older) must take responsibility in looking after his mother, and with no jobs available that will pay sufficiently he is forced into the business his Father got involved in and doing so will uncover the truth about his death. The Son will work his way up through the ranks and make more and more of a name for himself, but with the truth of his Fathers death still weighing heavy on his mind he must choose between possible riches or exacting revenge on those who ripped his family apart, with his mother being caught in the crossfire if he were to do so.