Eastern Europe and Russia

The United Nations (UN) has identified 10 countries as forming eastern Europe: Belarus, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Since the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1991, there has been an increase in organized and transnational crime in the region, as criminals and would-be criminals in eastern Europe have taken advantage of unguarded borders, inexperienced police, and lax laws. They formed alliances with groups outside the region to supply demands for illicit goods and services. Some persons with law-enforcement experience, having worked previously for regional governments, have taken advantage of large financial gains that became available through participation in organized crime. Thus, the region's criminal justice systems' priorities have included combating growing violence, human trafficking, ...