Part 7/9:
The bleakness of the late 90s offered little solace. The environment was riddled with horrific incidences born of fear: bombings, abductions, and a high incidence of assassination riddled the news headlines. Gangs such as the Tambov group and Chechen mafia infiltrated various aspects of society, extending their influence into regional politics. Some members of these organized crime networks even ascended to public office, complicating the already murky distinction between the criminal and governmental spheres.