The Brothers' Circle or Bratski Krug (Russian: Братский круг) is a term used to refer to Russian organized crime, commonly the Russian mafia. It is a loose translation of the Russian term "Bratva" (Russian: Братва), which can also be loosely translated as “brotherhood” or “band of brothers". The term "bratva" received its wide dissemination in the 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and was used as an informal address among the members of many gangs which spread throughout post-soviet republics. Today the term is used as an informal way of addressing close friends. This form of address and lack of proper interpretation resulted in its name being used in connection to Russian organized crime.
U.S. Department of the Treasury officials suggest that it operates in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and the United States,[1] and is controlled by Vladislav Leontyev, a Russian man from Nizhny Novgorod.[2] In 2011 the group was defined by the Obama administration of the United States in the "Strategy on Combating Transnational Organized Crime",[3] as "A multiethnic criminal group composed of leaders and senior members of several criminal organizations largely based in countries of Europe. Many Brothers' Circle's members share a common ideology based on the thief in law tradition, which seeks to spread their brand of criminal influence around the world."[4]
Mark Galeotti, an expert on Eurasian security, has stated that: "I have not found anyone in Russian law enforcement or elsewhere who actually says 'yes, the Brothers' Circle is an organization and it exists. As such the label Brothers' Circle could be seen as an attempt to connect disparate criminal gangs."[2] In June 2012, with the designation of five more kingpins, Galeotti restated his opinion that the Brothers' Circle did not exist as a specific gang, but noted that the sanctions were in fact targeting members of Aslan Usoyan's criminal network.[5]
^Hopkins, Valerie (26 July 2011). . Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. Archived from the original on 18 December 2011.
^"Remarks at White House Release of Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime". whitehouse.gov. 25 July 2011. from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021 – via National Archives.
^"Another Go Round the 'Brothers' Circle'". In Moscow's Shadows. 7 June 2012. from the original on 10 June 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
^"Treasury Designates Key Members of the Brothers' Circle Criminal Organization". from the original on 2013-11-03. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
^ abcdef"Obama Calls "Brothers' Circle" a National Security Threat...But Who Are They?". Hetq.am. Yerevan, Republic of Armenia: HETQ investigative journalists. 15 March 2012. from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
^"Treasury Imposes Sanctions On Key Members Of The Yakuza And Brothers' Circle Criminal Organizations". US Department of the Treasury. 2012-02-23. from the original on 2021-04-21. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
July 17, 2023
brothers, circle, bratski, krug, russian, Братский, круг, term, used, refer, russian, organized, crime, commonly, russian, mafia, loose, translation, russian, term, bratva, russian, Братва, which, also, loosely, translated, brotherhood, band, brothers, term, b. The Brothers Circle or Bratski Krug Russian Bratskij krug is a term used to refer to Russian organized crime commonly the Russian mafia It is a loose translation of the Russian term Bratva Russian Bratva which can also be loosely translated as brotherhood or band of brothers The term bratva received its wide dissemination in the 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union and was used as an informal address among the members of many gangs which spread throughout post soviet republics Today the term is used as an informal way of addressing close friends This form of address and lack of proper interpretation resulted in its name being used in connection to Russian organized crime U S Department of the Treasury officials suggest that it operates in the Middle East Africa Latin America and the United States 1 and is controlled by Vladislav Leontyev a Russian man from Nizhny Novgorod 2 In 2011 the group was defined by the Obama administration of the United States in the Strategy on Combating Transnational Organized Crime 3 as A multiethnic criminal group composed of leaders and senior members of several criminal organizations largely based in countries of Europe Many Brothers Circle s members share a common ideology based on the thief in law tradition which seeks to spread their brand of criminal influence around the world 4 Contents 1 Debate over existence 2 Alleged members 3 See also 4 ReferencesDebate over existence EditMark Galeotti an expert on Eurasian security has stated that I have not found anyone in Russian law enforcement or elsewhere who actually says yes the Brothers Circle is an organization and it exists As such the label Brothers Circle could be seen as an attempt to connect disparate criminal gangs 2 In June 2012 with the designation of five more kingpins Galeotti restated his opinion that the Brothers Circle did not exist as a specific gang but noted that the sanctions were in fact targeting members of Aslan Usoyan s criminal network 5 Alleged members EditZakhar Kalashov 6 Vasiliy Khristoforov 7 Kamchy Kolbayev 7 8 Vladislav Leontyev 7 Gafur Rakhimov 7 Lazar Shaybazyan 7 Alexey Zaytsev 7 See also EditGeorgian mafia Russian mafia Transnational crimeReferences Edit Russian mafia most powerful in the world Archived 2012 07 11 at the Wayback Machine 7 November 2011 pravda ru a b What is the Brothers Circle Archived 2013 11 04 at the Wayback Machine 12 March 2012 Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project Hopkins Valerie 26 July 2011 U S Attempts to Combat Dark Side of Globalization Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project Archived from the original on 18 December 2011 Remarks at White House Release of Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime whitehouse gov 25 July 2011 Archived from the original on 6 March 2021 Retrieved 3 March 2021 via National Archives Another Go Round the Brothers Circle In Moscow s Shadows 7 June 2012 Archived from the original on 10 June 2012 Retrieved 22 July 2012 Treasury Designates Key Members of the Brothers Circle Criminal Organization Archived from the original on 2013 11 03 Retrieved 2012 12 21 a b c d e f Obama Calls Brothers Circle a National Security Threat But Who Are They Hetq am Yerevan Republic of Armenia HETQ investigative journalists 15 March 2012 Archived from the original on 12 February 2022 Retrieved 12 February 2022 Treasury Imposes Sanctions On Key Members Of The Yakuza And Brothers Circle Criminal Organizations US Department of the Treasury 2012 02 23 Archived from the original on 2021 04 21 Retrieved June 27 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brothers 27 Circle amp oldid 1155794566, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
