The Bratva: Russia’s Global Crime Syndicate

Discover the captivating history of the Bratva, the Russian Mafia, from its origins in the lawless countryside to its rise in the heart of the Soviet Union. Explore its evolution, culture, and the impact of historical events like the October Revolution and the Gulags on this powerful criminal organization. Learn how the Bratva adapted and thrived in the post-Soviet era, becoming intertwined with Russia's ruling class and extending its influence globally. Join us on a journey through the complex world of the Bratva, where reality blurs the lines between the state and organized crime.
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Decoding the Unknown: / @decodingtheunknown2373

[@ThatGuy-iz3vy]

Yes, do ALL the different criminal organizations, you could make it a mini-series 👍

[@davidleider4372]

I second this

[@devinbroadhurst1534]

could make it a channel lol

[@trinimerc4696]

I thirdly argree with this

[@bfg5291]

I third, fourth, and drink a fifth to this!!

[@terryjohnson5579]

I'd love a Coza Nostra or Mafia from Simon he's so endlessly entertaining

[@tvoyamama]

As a Russian myself, this was very interesting! As a child, I was told a lot by older kids about the thieves and criminals of my homeland, the 90s and all. Thanks a lot, would love to hear more about different criminal organisations around the world! Edit: There is no need to hate me for my ethnicity in the replies, you do not know what my beliefs are, what country I currently live in and etc.

[@particles343]

Even the Canadians have a mafia alive and well today. The Quebecers have some too. Funny thing the Maple Syrup mafia is also a real thing.

[@AnimeShinigami13]

he did one about the Yakuza awhile back.

[@Vaeldarg]

@@EladOSRS Keep in mind 1) they could be someone who's just Russian descent but live outside of Russia, 2) the Russian people are themselves held hostage in the system of Kleptocracy described in this video. Putin is himself a Kleptocrat, hence why he wants to steal land/resources from countries neighboring Russia (not just Ukraine, but Georgia, Belarus, etc.). It's thievery taken to a geopolitical level.

[@Grygory-fd3kp]

​@@EladOSRSbruh, why you hating on a random person 💀

[@Ynnastra]

​@@ProPatriaEstonia 😅 the same could be said about Americans, Europeans, everybody in the world, literally. You just hate Russians

[@SuperKendoman]

Great stuff, Simon. Do one on the triads of Hong Kong. What once was a revolutionary group formed to overthrow the Manchus, eventually became a criminal organisation

[@comettamer]

I've been waiting for that one

[@insertgenericnamehere7774]

Pretty much like guerillas in Columbia / south america in general. :D

[@brandonfree3059]

Jamie Rincon Junior, Darina P Fort Lauderdale Florida, Shane Emilio Skillings Bronx New York Georgia and Florida CIA human traffickers also involved in navy/ space force black budget testing of microwave and sonic weapons on the American public torturing and killing whoever they want raping drugging and tracking victims if they survive it is a game they play on your wives your daughters your children whoever they want the police are involved the judges freemasons 5G grid secondary satellite grid the space array, arrays on the hospitals hospitals traffic children and women and experiment and drug them- (northrup grumman, mcdowell computing) this is your New World order no one will survive because the strongest aretaken first and experimented on to perfect This weapon system/- and then when every legal system fails the victims that is your third system of the grid be positive look the other way no one will help you this is the New World order if you do not get up and dosomething today you are all going to experience this in your every day life… Jfk north west palm beach fl, st marys palm beach are trafficking network- nurses involved rented in port st lucie fl (2054 se hillmoore dr #116 pt st lucie fl) Katherine&Matthew Flynn alias last name diff ft lauderdale fl coverups

[@3lkPeople3uiltTh3Pyramids]

It's funny how them Albinos was putting themselves in shipping containers to get over America to see me

[@darkodonnie2729]

​@@insertgenericnamehere7774 nope. Guerilla were brutal, triads are more like wannabe gangsters

[@alexvarney3683]

I would love a whole mini-series on the various organized crime groups of the world, and how they each operate differently

[@mrjuse5470]

There are countless shows/documentaries that already cover all of this.

[@ProbablyNotLegit]

Albanian mafia would be interesting, from the underdogs after the Yugoslav Wars to one of the most prolific OCGs on the planet even by 2001

[@mehmedduska924]

I would love to see an Albanian mafia episode.

[@tentmaker2254]

Albanians run the coke trade in Europe

[@Gunmannn.]

There is no real stories online about the real Albanian mafia just a group or individual, the real deal has NOTHING around on them.

[@ayrefik6089]

Nothing on Russians … Albanians are like little children compared ethnic russian mafia & Chechen mafia

[@georges9257]

😂

[@van3158]

Awesome! This would make an amazing series covering international organized crime.

[@alexandergaus493]

Well- almost everyone heard about Yakuza or the Italian mob, but THIS was genuinely new to me and, as always, a near perfect written and delivered piece! 👍

[@user-qq3bl6py3g]

Not an accident

[@alexandergaus493]

@@user-qq3bl6py3g what do you mean?

[@DutchieDingo]

Absolutely would love a series about international crime syndicates. Also one covering the Djorde Martinović incident

[@khallkhall7237]

I've been reading and watching everything I could get my hands on about the vor for 20+ years and this is the best summary of history and culture I've ever seen.

[@jamesdavidson1965]

Would love to see more series on this channel so you could watch a playlist ordered chronologically of a different subjects and get more into subjects like criminal enterprises, conspiracy theories, different wars

[@retro_451]

Hi Simon! Love your delivery, mate.

[@mr.smiths220]

This video needs a warning for people with Epilepsy

[@draymanil]

All of your channels should be podcasts as well. I love all your content

[@patrickhallermann3844]

Really great video. Thanks, Simon.

[@christopherhenrichs7543]

Yes!!! A series of these would be outstanding🍻

[@mastermasonjoewillis3904]

I like how you're creating channels with different formats.

[@ismarwinkelman5648]

*The Russian Mafia* : *_Private Protection in a New Market Economy_* by *Federico Varese* is an excellent book on the subject 😎👌

[@christianguerrero9239]

I love all you’re channels bro keep the history coming and yes a videos on all the criminal organizations would be great

[@fancyultrafresh3264]

Well thanks for you final video send off Mr. Whistler!

[@TGBloke]

Yes, we would love more on this. Especially the lesser-known ones, like the Kkangpae.

[@PNWMAK]

Dude has so many channels and at least 5 have 1+ million subs. Great work good sir🎩

[@fightmilkkk]

Best time for a drop!!

[@luyandzabavukiledlamini4693]

I would love to see more videos on different criminal organizations around the world Here in South Africa the main and most powerful criminal organization are the taxi unions who constantly fight for control of lucrative transport routes often leading to bloody battles

[@imbored1979]

Like the Gcaba Brothers

[@The_king567]

Doesn’t South Africa have a mafia to

[@kraanz]

Pretty sure SA has bigger problems than a few rowdy taxi drivers.

[@luyandzabavukiledlamini4693]

@@kraanz You don't get it these people have almost full control of the economy If you piss one of them they can just order their drivers to down their taxis leaving many people who rely on them to get to work and other places stranded and cause chaos like in Cape Town earlier this year

[@jakewebster5084]

Love you see videos on all of these groups!

[@genuinefreewilly5706]

Quite the detailed history. I might have to watch this again :)

[@Darien_England]

I love these, looking at both the historical side of things with a look at how they operate

[@ramseyr2852]

Outstanding! Thank you!!!

[@andrewbrown6522]

Well, it was nice to know you Simon. Dont take it personally if we dont stand beside you for a couple weeks.

[@Bassettman2012]

You should be narrating A& E along side of Bill Curtis. You have that rare gift of keeper you watching & sounding so smart & professional. Awesome job

[@Ramsesdgr8]

Fantastic video. I really appreciate what you are doing.

[@tsartomato]

it's bullshit video with not a single real word

[@CurtisUI]

Lol, my brother met some of those guys in Detroit. He was winning a lot at a casino and the guys with Russian accents asked if he wanted to play for higher stakes. He took them for about 7k and was only allowed to leave as long as he came back. Yeah he never went back and moved far away 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@yendevus1747]

And then the credits scene came up.

[@Eric-pd2bl]

Hey it’s Bert’s cousin!

[@deanstanley2125]

An old boss of mine an Irish fellow would keep a box full of cash on his desk, it was meant for the IRA, two large and scary looking men would come in the restaurant to pick up the cash and leave. I asked my boss how much was in the box and he said about a hundred grand. I was tempted to take the money and run but they would have killed my father and then me if I came back.

[@ringlhach]

It's fair to say at this point that Prigozhin came out second-best in everything with Putin. Assuming he hasn't pulled a Houdini on absolutely everyone, which I kind of doubt.

[@emixmim]

Absolutely would love to see a video on the Chinese triads. Also it would be interesting to research the connections of these mafias have with each other across the world and how they influence our world.

[@BlakeLyon-xw7of]

You can tell this was recorded before Wagner leader was killed.

[@ostlandr]

Yeah. Pity. I was really hoping that Progozhin would come out on top of his little spat with Putin. But if the Russian Mob was after him too, he was doomed.

[@jameseckert3341]

Yevgeny Prigozhin

[@bit_mma]

But the thieves sent out a kite that arrestants going to Ukraine aren’t going according to “thieve’s code”

[@BoozewithNick]

This was superb, I will look forward to one on the Triads.

[@michaelkilliany1472]

I knew a tiny bit of this playing the shadowrun ttrpg, having worked for the vory v zakone organization. Looking forward to seeing episodes on the tong and the seoulpa rings.

[@amaccama3267]

You're a brave man Simon.

[@jamescameron1861]

I would be very interested in articles about Japanese and especially Chinese organised crime

[@manolososadavinci1937]

Than go to everyone who has already made some 🤦🏽🤦🏽🤦🏽

[@jacksonharrison6624]

@@manolososadavinci1937?? So people aren’t allowed to make suggestions? Okay

[@Fr33zeBurn]

My man James is of the Asian persuasion

[@drayle71]

he already did the japanese yakuza about 2 months ago its called The Yakuza: Ethical Gangsters or Mob Rule. consider simon has said things can take a while to record and come out there is a chance they were recorded at a similar time.

[@cynthiaherbst3909]

If I recall correctly he does have one on the Yakuza on this channel, but I know not yet one on the Triads.

[@brettbambouturton3117]

What an amazing and informative video.. Great job Mr Whistler, concise and thoughtful work.

[@popsiclesbutlikeanancientg59]

Yes, I would like videos on the other organized crime syndicates around the world. Very interesting

[@Antalya-]

Nice video ❤

[@andrewwright.]

perfect timing

[@jobvanwagner117]

Yes, videos on all of those groups

[@user-hk2fi6vz1e]

I would also like to see videos on all the criminal organisations, in perhaps a mini series format

[@pamelamays4186]

I hereby propose a new Whistleverse channel: Crimeographics. This channel will delve into and explore organized crime throughout the world. Well known gangs and obscure gangs. Street gangs and mainstream gangs. Gangs from around the world, from every continent.

[@grim.hustle]

Thieves love is eternal. Be honorable.

[@evanmckinnon2851]

Simon is the undisputed king of KZbin

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

GOD SAVE THE KING

[@Lizardo451]

You should check out the Mafia cemeteries in Russia, particularly in Yekerinburg.

[@tripsaplenty1227]

only an idiot would travel to russia right now. they are impressing foreigners into the army.

[@YY-dv3yk]

Good shit But that orange light thing was very uncomfortable

[@chadwelcomer5516]

The way Simon said mafia at the beginning 🤣 💯

[@tonycowin]

I hope Simon steers clear of high rise balaconies and glowing cups of tea after this video.😊

[@jonroads8281]

Loved this video, definitely up for more on criminal organisations.

[@johnmassey1016]

A video about the Italian mafias would be appreciated, Simon

[@WendyJones-zx7is]

Go and find the award winning Italian series called Gomorrah ? With proper Italian actors ? Based on truth about four seasons of the series in Naples ? Brilliant

[@Dr.Aardvark]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gouWcpRnqLKNkMUsi=Gx4GwAoLhq1hU0yc

[@kraanz]

@@WendyJones-zx7is Are you doubting your own statements?

[@taunteratwill1787]

I hope your message will reach those who can keep taps. 😎

[@kathyfeltman5601]

Holy cow! The explanation of "vor" at the beginning gives a whole new twist to Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga and their "honorary" Vor-prefix!! I guess Miles got it honestly after all. 😂

[@vardeuxarchwind1568]

Please do a full series that would be awesome. I’d love to see one on the yakuza.

[@RisingRevengeance]

I'll second that. They're also interesting, japan cant get rid of them because they're so ingrained with people and money in everything.

[@Mark-sl4bw]

Although they don't exist any longer and are little known by most people, I'd love to see a segment on the Ringvereine ("ring clubs") aka the German mafia.

[@user-rm6qy9qy2k]

Do the Vatican Mafia next

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

Ave Maria

[@jacobgappa4200]

Simon almost channeled Clarkson saying "In the world!"

[@ChairmanMeow1]

Russian prison tattoo culture is a fun rabbit hole to go down if youre bored

[@ignitionfrn2223]

0:13 - Noice quote *To walk with purpose is to survive & perhaps even to thrive*

[@DaKavMan]

Into the shadows ? No , into the world of organised crime

[@TimSedai]

Check your smokables for polonium going forward Simon

[@Hebdomad7]

24:23 - funny you say that. As of writing, one is dead, the other is dying presumably terminally...

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

Kyrie, eleison

[@Boe-Temeraire]

I'd love a series on all the different international mob groups!

[@jumpinjohnnyruss]

There isn't publicly available information on all of them.

[@alexswanson7127]

O American Alexander Dolgun, imprisoned in the Gulag, became friendly with the Thieves and later recorded their recognition test for new Thieves entering the camp. Years later, former Spetsnaz officer and defector Viktor Suvorov recorded the equivalent test for Spetsnaz to recognise each other. It was the same test.

[@vic5015]

I propose that the next in this mini-series of sorts be the Chinese Triads, the Camorra (Neapolitan mafia), or the Unione Corse (Corsican mafia).

[@gcs8]

This complements well with the video Count Dankula did on the suka wars.

[@andygish3461]

Yes!! You absolutely should make a criminal organization mini series.

[@garyb9167]

Yes please, more of these videos

[@alexschild5389]

I love putting into the shadows on the background but I was shaken from my daze when he started asking if I wanted to be a Vore.

[@fothrmuckr]

How many channels do you have?? Glad to see this topic though, I watch a large bit of the channels. When another one pops up on the feed,I watch the video and sub to the channel.

[@grilledleeks6514]

One of my favorite episodes just for the number of times I get to hear Simon say "Bitches"

[@Dragonman343]

My man has another channel godamn

[@I-AM-HIM_517]

Uncle Simon can you tell us about the triad and yakuza

[@michellerindal8836]

I would like to see a video about Japanese Yakuza

[@bigjigwig77]

I would very much like videos about each of those international gangs

[@cpt8722]

Yes, all those groups, please!

[@mr.zeitmaschine6878]

Growing up in the USSR I was pretty exposed to this life. I knew thieves-in-laws, some from my neighborhood. I didn’t know them by name. I knew them personally. Some would think hearing all the stories that these were some real thugs but if you spent an hour with them, you’d think they were professors at the Moscows Lomonosov University. The idea and the name sounds very intimidating and dark, but in reality these were very well read, well dressed, mostly soft spoken people that would play chess with you and discuss life. Only the value system in the bratva had a very high moral code. A kind of life and moral 95% westerners could never live under or with. Most known thief-in-laws, in the USSR vor v zakone, were Armenians, Georgians, Azerbaijanis, Chechens, Russians of course and some Jews. Almost all of them knew each other in the entire USSR. Most of the time they were better judges than the real judges so the regular people mostly left the affairs between themselves and to the thieves to decide. The whole thing really started with Stalin. He needed them and he himself lived with the code. Stalin was something else. The first thieve in law in the USSR was an Armenian name Kamo from Tbilisi in Georgia which really was a very Armenian populated city which is where my grandfather was from. Kamo was killed in a car accident. Some say Stalin was present in his Coronation. It was an interesting country and a system. We lived with high moral codes and discipline. To be honest, I miss it a lot. I’ve lived in the US now for decades. This is not freedom. This is a strange place with no codes, no loyalty, no honor. People shock me every day with their behavior and I will never get used to it. I guess you will take a man out of a USSR but you will never take USSR out of a man.

[@heyysimone]

Genuine curiosity here as apart from the Bolsheviks and Stalin, i didnt learn much about the USSR or countries that it was made up of at school (didnt even learn much about them during ww2 history), was it as difficult living there in terms of everyday life and lack of food - its always taught that there were famines and times when people in the USSR didnt get much food and that it was hard to come by.

[@yvyeeg6254]

​@@heyysimoneafter ww2 ended food situation gradually improved but before that were massive famines caused by rampant industrialization and agricultural mismanagement

[@Warman88888888]

Feel free to move back to Russia then.

[@mr.zeitmaschine6878]

@@Warman88888888 this statement makes you part of the 80% of the ignorant American society. I don’t need to know anything else about you to know where you stand. Russia and USSR are as different as USA and USSR. The problem is that you’ve been so terrified of the USSR that until now you can’t accept that that country is gone and whatever takes its geographical place to you looks the same. I’ll explain to you in simple American logic so it’s a little more clear to you. Let’s say Sears closes it’s store and leaves because it was bankrupt and Walmart takes over the building and opens a new store. Are you going to keep going there lookin for a washer dryer as if it’s still Sears? Most likely not. Than why is Russia Soviet Union to you all? Are you this ignorant or what is it? Yes I wish I never made the mistake of relocating to this “free country”. Not because of the country but because of racists and haters like you. It’s just that when you vouch for your country to go ruin other people’s homes, expect those people to come over because that’s what this country tells those people to do.

[@mr.zeitmaschine6878]

@@heyysimone sorry I didn’t see your reply until now. It wasn’t difficult living there at all. In fact it is more difficult to live in the US. Remember that in the USSR there was no such thing as rent or home mortgage payments. Everyone owned their home and you were guaranteed employment by the gov. They tried to create equality but of course that never works. The only time food became an issue was starting 1988 when USA started its black ops in the USSR to bring it to collapse. This is when wars broke out between nations and republics and food became a problem. Prior to that there was no place like it really. I’ll debate anyone that claims USSR was a bad country and peoples lives were bad. Ill prove that the peace of mind of every USSR citizen was priceless and the moral compass of every citizen was on its highest level. Adulthood in the system had some flaws but I’m very grateful I grew up in the USSR because for kids it was the best place to grow up. Keep in mind I’m not a communist at all. Far from it. I just see the reality being someone that spent half my life there and the other half here in the USA. I now see clearly how much they lied to Americans out the USSR back then and Russia now. They need them to be enemies so that are. I don’t remember even once in my life in the USSR for anyone to speak bad about the Americans or America when for the gov of USSR America was an enemy. I see who is the author of all this turmoil and who injects the poison.

[@jamesbest9038]

Would LOVE a series on international organized crime groups. Also would like the Irish mob

[@vickibart3491]

Here in Australia we have organised crime groups of bikies. Ongoing issues with gangland killings in broad daylight etc

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Do a colomba sequel man! 🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@1whitkat]

It can't be a surprise to anyone that's following current events to hear that Russian Government and Russian Criminal enterprise are working hand in hand. Thank you for bringing up some of the deeper history.

[@Pavlos_Charalambous]

Simon Swearing in Russian Priceless

[@HallqvistOfficial]

Do one on Wallenberg.

[@comettamer]

Definitely cant wait for one on the Hong Kong Triads.

[@Rosseboi]

Simon going to randomly fall out of an apartment window after making this video. All I'm saying......

[@sargethepup2301]

Totally want to learn about other world criminal organizations!!! Please

[@UnderGeorge]

Could you do an episode on Polish Pruszków mafia?

[@ahnightingale]

Great overview, though Yevgeny Prigozhin died on August 23rd (nineteen days before this video was posted.)

[@aidkik580]

You mean the russian government, I understand the confusion when it comes to the term mafia or crime syndicate or "mob" but it's just good ol Russia, their government fits the description of all those things and more

[@Scout-Fanfiction]

I liked the content in the video (all these channels that Simon is affiliated with, always have top tier writing and production). My only complaint is the flickering transition effect used throughout the video. Not that transitions aren't needed (there's other effects used throughout the video), but the orange flickering transition stood out as problematic for me (of course I could have another tab open while listening to the video, but ideally, videos are meant to be watched lol).

[@catherine_404]

I'm just sitting at home, sowing, or rather, mending some stuff. And SUDDENLY Simon with his story about Russian underworld. I'm Russian. For some reason it's always hilarious to learn how an Other sees your surroundings. I'm yet to hear the story. I have zero idea about the real inside of that criminal culture, I'm from, I guess, intelligencia family, engineers and such, but somehow I always find misunderstandings in tellings about what Russia is and isn't, even if it's something so distant from me as anything criminal.

[@jamesgordon7608]

A lot of romantic folk lore from the bloody 90's. Most Russians want nothing to do with that history or hear about it being retold. It isn't any high mark. Its a huge stain unpleasant memories. Its like reminding Germans how powerful Hitler was.

[@asb2106]

Credit due to criminal minds honor among thieves 2007 for nailing this dead on and telling a great story

[@padlasvillage]

Tatoos tells about a person, its like a business card. Also tattoo history is intreresting

[@catherine_404]

Why, oh why there wasn't a pronounciation guide for the word "bratva"? The stress is on the last vowel, it's "brat-vá". Otherwise Simon does it right. The literal meaning of the word is "brotherhood", but it's actually "a gang".

[@ATFagsinbodybags2]

Next video- Congress: the United States global crime syndicate.

[@imazombieee8949]

this channel kicks ass. the binge is good with this one

[@jameslyddall]

I live next to weybridge in Surrey and speaking to a guy in the met the other day in a general conversation most of the Russian oligarchs live within a few miles of me. Weybridge/Woben Hill and Virginia Water is somewhere they all settle. Probably it’s close proximity to London.

[@Scyllless]

Note to the editor, run a light de-esser on the mic audio, some of the s are a little harsh

[@nontrickpony]

There’s a short book called ‘One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich’ that documents a day in the life of one of these Soviet labour camp workers, it’s only short but it’s so detailed about the day to day stuff like food, clothing and work etc I’m making it sound so boring but it’s good.