Russia in Four Criminals

The book explores post-Soviet Russia's transformation through the lives of four criminals, each representing different social strata and decades. From a traditional mobster to a computer virus mastermind, these narratives illuminate the country's shift from the late Soviet era through Boris Yeltsin's presidency to Vladimir Putin's authoritarian rule. Federico Varese examines how corruption and law enforcement abuses shaped this violent transition to democracy, highlighting the West's complicity in overlooking these issues until it was too late.