Russia: Organized Crime and an Explosion in Sochi

One person was wounded in a small explosion in the Russian resort town of Sochi on Nov. 11 — the sixth such blast in the city so far this year. Sochi is the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics and, considering the development projects and money at stake during the buildup of the city, many of the organized criminal outfits operating in Sochi were looking forward to the increased opportunities they would have in preparation for the games. However, the Moscow mafia (reportedly led by Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov) has no intention of missing out on the lucrative construction deals in Sochi. The blasts in Sochi are a subtle reminder to local gangs that the Moscow mob has come to town.