What Russia Must Do to Fight Organized Crime

Most analysts explain the persistence of organized crime in Russia as a result of corrupt government officials who protect major crime bosses and hinder law enforcement attempts to investigate and prosecute criminal organizations. Although official corruption is undoubtedly a major factor, such analyses ignore other, no less important, obstacles, many of which are embedded in the Russian legal system itself. This article examines various gaps in Russian law, such as inadequate mechanisms for introducing wiretap evidence and cooperating witness testimony in court proceedings, which hinder the investigation and prosecution of organized crime in Russia. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]