Obtshak
The Obtshak (Russian), Obštšak (Estonian spelling), or Ühiskassa (Estonian) or "Common treasury" is a traditional umbrella organisation of criminal groups in Estonia, a trade union of sorts that settles conflicts and establishes boundaries of the spheres of interest of various groups such as the Estonian mafia and Russian mafia. Between 2003 and 2016, the Common Fund was dominated by Nikolai Tarankov of Ukrainian or Belarusian heritage and KGB training.[1][2] However, Tarankov was found murdered in 2016, apparently in a revenge murder related to his past actions.[3][4] The Common Fund pays for lawyers of caught members, purchases and delivers packages to imprisoned members, and covers other expenses.[1] The organization has about ten member groups.[4] The members have also operated significantly in Finland, where in 2009, high-level drug dealing was controlled by Estonians.[5]
In 2005, the Estonian Central Criminal Police noticed a decline in revenues of the Common Fund, leading to the capture of several high-ranking members.[6] The decline has been attributed to changes in Estonian society, particularly those experienced in the lead-up to accession to the European Union.[citation needed]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Eesti Päevaleht February 11, 2002: Kuritegelik sõpruskond keerutab ühiskassa miljoneid by Risto Berendson
- ^ Eesti Ekspress March 12, 2003: Nikolai Tarankov – vaikne valitseja by Raul Ranne
- ^ "Mafiapomon kuolema oli ikava muistutus Viron menneisvvdesta". Helsingin Sanomat. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ a b Petteri Savolainen (15 September 2016). "Poliisi selvittää Viron alamaailman kummisedän murhaa – ruumis löytyi autosta". MTV(Company). Retrieved 21 August 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Eesti Ekspress January 27, 2005: Ühiskassa lahjad päevad by Janar Filippov
 | This article about a criminal organization is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |