Russian-speaking Mafia “Convention” in Athens: 15 detentions, 3 arrests

A meeting right from the Hollywood playbook: Top mafia ‘executives’ from several Russian-speaking countries held their annual “convention” in Athens on Tuesday, June 26, 2024.

Too bad that somebody gave a tip to Greek police a few days earlier, and the 15 participants were detained in downtown Athens late on Tuesday.

3 of them, men from Russia, Ukraine and Moldova, were arrested.

The 15 people from Georgia, Ukraine, Russia, Moldavia and Greece participated in the meeting

Some of the suspects  are believed to be members of the powerful organized crime syndicate Vory V Zakone which is active across Europe.

One of the arrestees, an Ukrainian of Georgian origin, was wanted by Russia with a Red Alert for robberies and thefts and he is thought to be a high-ranking member of the syndicate. Another one had been charged with a crime and was wanted in Spain. The third arrestee has been charged for violations of the Arms Act.

The purpose of the meeting is not known, however, high-ranking officers of the Greek Police suggest that the “summit” participants met to prepare actions for some serious crime, protothema.gr reported.

Police investigation focuses in the scope of activity of those arrested.

The 12 detainees are expected to be released during the day, ethnos.gr reported.

According to Skai TV, the meeting in Athens was the annual “convention” of the mafiosi.

What is highly interesting is that the name of the venue where the Russian-speaking mafiosi has not become public and that the participants were much too confident to held their annual mafia ‘convention’ in a very popular area in the center of Athens, near the Greek Parliament.

PS It was not the Friends of Italian Opera. But still…