in a maximum-security prison for the 2009 kidnapping of a businessman. Extradition:
One of the most influential "thief-in-law" figures globally, often cited as a top contender for "boss of bosses" within the Russian underworld. Affiliation: Leader of the Kutaisi Clan
: Eventually assassinated in Moscow in 2013, with speculation frequently pointing toward Oniani or his allies as potential orchestrators. Recent Legal History and Extradition
: Moved to Paris in the 1990s, where he established ties with other major criminal figures.
The war began over a simple but lethal dispute: control over a lucrative drug transit route through the North Caucasus. Oniani, known for his "liberal" approach (allowing non-Georgians into high-ranking positions), clashed with the old-school vory who believed the brotherhood should be exclusively for those born within the Soviet Union’s recognized ethnic groups.