Thirty years have passed, and the echoes of the nineties are heard now. They are also called dashing for cruelty, unscrupulousness and the complete absence of at least some kind of order in the country. 1988 was the final year of the formation of one of the largest groups of all criminal gangs in the history of Russia. It was a Solntsevo organized crime group. Legends still make up about her today.
Moscow Region Mafia of the nineties
This group got its name by geographical affiliation to the territory of the municipal district Solntsevo of the city of Moscow. Two years after the formation of the Solntsevo group, they were joined by gangs from Chertanovo, Yasenevo and Novye Cheryomushki. And a year later, the united Solntsevskaya gang reunited with the influential Orekhovskaya bandit group. From now on, they began to be called the Solntsevo-Orekhov group. The father of the Moscow Mafia was Sergey Timofeev, nicknamed Sylvester. His gang included about two hundred and twenty people. And every year this number grew. By 1994, there were about three hundred and twenty members of the gang. The criminal coalition also included the Kuntsevskaya gang, whose leader was the Lexicon, and the Kemerovo group led by the Italians.
Having such an army, the Solntsevskaya criminal gang quickly quickly crushed numerous spheres of entrepreneurial activity and large business. Fearlessness, arrogance and outright cruelty became the main calling cards of bandits. To confront them was to sign a death sentence. Under the "patronage" of the brutal gang were the restaurants "Havana" and "Bombay." Also, Maxim casino and numerous beer bars located along Udaltsova Street have become a profitable article for the group. Hotel "Salute" was included in the list of successful income items for the entrepreneurial "Solntsevsky" business leaders. The thriving gambling business, located in the Gagarinsky district of Moscow, was also “carefully” under the “roof” of the Moscow Region Mafia. But all this was not enough for them. The gangster community grew by leaps and bounds, and their appetites grew along with this. The brother went to another level. Smuggling of the drug and arms trade was established, prostitution, kidnapping and trafficking flourished.
Legalized crime
The year 1993 was marked as successful for the Solntsevo gang, as the criminal group took up legal activity. Now all her actions were completely legal. Huge cash flows poured into the creation of large firms and credit organizations. The bandits "changed clothes" and "changed their shoes", both literally and figuratively. Tights stretched out on their knees, marked by the familiar Adidas logo, and permanent sneakers on their feet were now replaced by business suits from Armani. Over one hundred organizations with various types of activities and more than one hundred and twenty banks were opened throughout Russia. Now the gang of Moscow was not enough. The sphere of influence has expanded beyond its borders. Pushkin and Odintsovo districts of Moscow were taken under the "roof".
The gang earned money on everything from small "thimbles" to large businessmen. So, the Solntsevskys smashed the Solntsevo automobile market, taxi drivers trading in the territory of the Kiev railway station, Sheremetyevo-2 and Vnukovo airports. The Cosmos, Central Tourist House, and Universitetskaya hotels paid a huge amount of money to the gang for the so-called "roof." Casinos "Valerie" and "Maxim" paid tribute for the right to carry out their gaming activities. The market in Luzhniki and the market of the South-Western district were included in the scope of bandit surveillance. Each merchant trading there was charged at least $ 500 per month. Those who refused such payment, after not quite “cultural conversation” with the bandits, healed the fractures and paid anyway.
Moscow and its environs were mastered, and the Solntsevsky mafia octopus decided to launch its tentacles further. So, representatives of the "bandyugan" appear in Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Togliatti. A number of Baltic criminal gangs pay "Solntsevo" tribute. Buying real estate in such sunny countries as Spain, Greece and Cyprus. Real estate in France, the USA, Poland and Hungary is becoming a tidbit for a criminal community that has become rich in blood. The beautiful city of Vienna for the "Solntsevo" mafia structure has become a business center. The central office of the bloody businessmen was located here. Celebrations are held in the city of Prague. The natives of Moscow region, poorly educated, with a minimum set of cultural habits, are trying to create a "higher" society, only imitating the latter, but without having any relation to it.
Official gang leaders
Sergei Mikhailov, nicknamed Mikhas, Victor Averin, nicknamed Avera Sr., Alexander Averin, Jr. nicknamed Sasha-Avera, Alexander Fedulov, nicknamed Fedul. These "comrades" are considered to be the founders of the "Solntsevo" group. Sergei Mikhailov (Mikhas) came under the scrutiny of law enforcement in 1984, when he was convicted of embezzlement and false testimony. His second "flight" was about suspicions of extortion and possession of weapons. But he managed to escape the court. In 1993, Mikhas came into the view of the police again. This time, he was suspected of involvement in the murder of Valery Vlasov, director of the Valeri casino. But again, the case did not reach the court. It is noteworthy that in 1995 Sergey Mikhailov became honorary consul in Moscow from Costa Rica. Fortunately, he did not stay in this position because of his criminal past. In 1995, Mikhas moved to permanent residence in prosperous Switzerland. After a year of residence, he is arrested on charges of money laundering, as well as for illegal acquisition of real estate in this country.
Averin’s brothers are considered one of the founders and leaders of the Solntsevo group. Averin Sr., having seen enough of American films, tried to build a gang in the image and likeness of the overseas mafia. His views on the structure of the gangster community were shared by Sergey Mikhailov and Alexander Fedulov. A must-have event for all members of the group Avera senior considered visiting gyms and shooting ranges. A healthy lifestyle was promoted by him everywhere. Those who used alcohol and drugs were severely punished. Over time, Avera Sr. introduced his younger brother Alexander to his bandit activity. Sasha-Avera quickly joined the gang, and then became one of its main representatives. Today, both brothers live abroad.
Sergey Timofeev (Sylvester) is a criminal authority, the leader of the Orekhovskaya gang, founded in 1986 in Moscow. He begins his criminal activity by organizing a business. The members of his gang are engaged in a fake. Timofeev’s gang is quickly becoming authoritative. Other criminal groups are considered with her. In 1989, Sylvester was already familiar with Sergei Mikhailov, Victor Averin and Evgeny Lyustarnov. As accomplices, they were arrested on charges of extortion. During the trial, everyone except Sylvester managed to evade responsibility. Timofeev received a sentence of imprisonment for a term of three years. He served only half of this period and went into the wild on parole. After leaving prison, Sylvester continues his criminal activities. Thus, in a rather short period of time, he combines many scattered small gangs into one highly organized criminal structure. His talent as an organizer is shown here. The gang immediately declares itself, subjugating large institutions and organizations in the South-West of Moscow. Sylvester enjoys great authority among such famous thieves as Mishka Yaponchik, Petrik, Jamal, Tsirul, Otari Kvantrishvili. Friendship with them and joint criminal activity allows us to reach the heights of criminal conjuncture. Numerous conflicts with "colleagues" provoked the organization of an assassination attempt against the presumptuous authority. On September 12, 1994, his Mercedes-Benz car was blown up, and the Orekhovsky ringleader died. Since Sylvester had enough enemies in the criminal environment, the one who ordered the murder was never found.
