Moscow’s Mafia Culture in a Snapshot

Casino Moscow
Author: Matthew Brzezinski
Publisher: Touchstone
Paperback: June 2002, $12.60 at Barnes and Noble

In Casino Moscow, Matthew Brzezinski gives a colorful, although superficial, snapshot of Russiaís corrupt business environment in which a handful of oligarchs and thugs stole much of the countryís wealth during the post-Soviet high rolling years, pre-1998 market crash. Brzezinski was serving as a Wall Street Journal reporter in Moscow during 1997-8, and was fortunate to witness the most crucial years in Russia by which limitless corruption, banditry, contract killings, graft, political favor and personal greed came to define the workings of Russiaís new economy.

Through manifold details and anecdotes, Brzezinski’s story (more…)

I paged through the classified section of the St. Petersburg Times, the popular English newspaper for expats in St. Petersburg, Russia. ìApts in city center, great views, 3 rooms, skylights, Jacuzzi, all for $400/month.” Sounds fantastic, but strikingly similar to the apartment ads Iíve been warned against. Unscrupulous characters place ads in local newspapers to lure expats into their offices. Of course, they have no intention of showing the non-existent apartment described in the ad.

The renter will say: “Oh, I’m sorry. We just rented that one. But we have one more, and it’s a good thing you called us because it’s quite hard to find an apartment this time of year.” What you are shown is a far cry from what you expected.

During my first few months in St. Petersburg, I lived in a hotel. The price was right, but in return for affordability, I gave up privacy. Coming in late at night from roaming around the city, I would ring the buzzer at the door. A poor, aged soul would drag herself awake to come to the door and let me in. My guilt at continually waking this woman up curtailed my late-night adventures, and I would return to my room, only to lie awake for hours unable to sleep. The hotel staff felt sorry for me, and thought I suffered from mental deficiency. This pattern started on the morning of the last Sunday in September. Reading my Lonely Planet Russia that weekend, I noticed that this day was the start of winter time, and the clocks turned back one hour. (more…)