Prior to 1989, the Communists indirectly controlled the government of the Soviet Union. It was during the Mikhail Gorbechev era in which his “openness” measure of reform was challenged by the explosion of the nuclear reactor at Chernobyl on April 26, 1986. This incident brought about change which was subsequent to an open discussion of poverty, the waste of resources, and the Afghan conflict. Efforts of reform were made by Eastern Europe leaders to remove the Communists leaders. …showed first 75 words of 1826 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1826 total…bbc.co.uk/hi/english/special_report/1998/03/98/russian_mafia/ne…/70095.st (9) Russian Mafia Website: Who’s Running Russia? 23 April 2001 http://www.megastories.com/russia/power/mafia.htm (10) Shelley, Louise I. “Organized Crime and Corruption Are Alive and Well in Ukraine.” Transition Newsletter. Jan - Feb 1999. 23 Apr 2001 http://www.worldbank.org/html/prddr/trans/janfeb99/pgs67.htm (11) Talalayev, Gennadiy. "Russia: Conference on Combating Crime: Yeltsin Outlines Ways of Combating Crime" BBC Summary of World Broadcasts 15 Feb 1993