Zakhariy Kalashov
{{Short description|Russian mafia boss}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Western Slavic name|Knyazevich|Kalashov}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name = Zakhariy Kalashov
| image =
| image_size =
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| birth_name = Zakhariy Knyazevich Kalashov
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|03|20|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, USSR
| death_date =
| death_place =
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| nationality = Russian
| occupation =
| spouse =
| children =
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| allegiance = Brothers' Circle
| motive =
| conviction = Spain: money laundering, racketeering
Georgia: money laundering, kidnapping, drug trafficking (in absentia) (Released)
| cause =
| charge =
| conviction_penalty = 7.5 years in prison, €20 million fine (increased to 9 years and €22.5 million)
| criminal_status = File:Criminal Authority (Avtoritet) Star - Tattoo (1).png
}}
Zakhariy Knyazevich Kalashov ({{lang-ka|ზაქარია 'შაქრო' კალაშოვი}}, {{langx|ru|Заха́рий Кня́зевич Калашо́в}}); born 20 March 1953, nicknamed "Young Shakro" ({{lang|ru|Шакро Молодой}}), is a Russian mafia boss, notorious gangster and thief in law of Yazidi origin. He is widely believed to be one of the most prominent Russian mafiosi.{{cite web|url=http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/mafiosi-the-caucasus-4615|title=Mafiosi in the Caucasus|work=The National Interest|date=22 December 2010 |access-date=30 November 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://report.az/en/interesting/well-known-kingpin/|title=Well known kingpin, born in Baku, deported from Spain to Moscow|website=Report News Agency|language=en|access-date=2020-03-23}}
Biography
According to the United States federal government, Kalashov is a "key member" of the criminal syndicate known as "the Brothers' Circle."{{cite news|url=https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1811.aspx|title=Treasury Designates Key Members of the Brothers' Circle Criminal Organization|access-date=30 November 2015|publisher=United States Department of the Treasury|date=20 December 2012}} In June 2005, Spanish authorities launched "Operation Wasp" targeting 30 members of the Brothers' Circle, resulting in the seizure of 800 bank accounts, luxury villas and cars. Kalashov fled to the United Arab Emirates, where he was arrested in 2006. He is the most senior member of the Russian mafia to have been arrested outside of Russia.{{cite news|last1=Harding|first1=Luke|title=Litvinenko investigating Abramovich money-laundering claims, court told|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/16/litvinenko-investigating-abramovich-money-laundering-claims-court-told|access-date=30 November 2015|work=The Guardian|date=16 March 2015}} He was subsequently extradited to Spain and found guilty of money laundering and racketeering in 2009.{{cite news|title=La Policía Nacional detiene al líder de la mafia rusa Zahar Kalashov|url=http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/sociedad/20100606/policia-nacional-detiene-lider-mafia-rusa-zahar-kalashov/303070.shtml|language=es|access-date=30 November 2015|work=El Periodico|date=6 June 2010}} In June 2010, he was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison and fined €20 million.{{cite news|title=Spanish court sentences Georgian crime boss|url=http://www.dw.com/en/spanish-court-sentences-georgian-crime-boss/a-5639811|access-date=30 November 2015|agency=Agence France-Presse|publisher=Deutsche Welle|date=1 June 2015}} In 2011, his sentence was increased to nine years in prison and fine increased to €22.5 million.{{cite news|title=ზაქარია კალაშოვი კვლავ ესპანეთში რჩება|url=http://www.ambebi.ge/samartali/34599-zaqaria-kalashovi-kvlav-espanethshi-rcheba.html|access-date=30 November 2015|work=Ambebi|language=ka|date=6 April 2011}}
In September 2010, a Spanish court approved the extradition of Kalashov back to Georgia, where he had been found guilty in absentia of kidnapping and other crimes and sentenced to 18 years in prison. He was allowed to appeal his extradition to the Spanish Supreme Court.{{cite news|title=Spanish court allows extradition of Georgian crime boss|url=http://news.az/articles/georgia/23518|access-date=30 November 2015|publisher=News.az|date=28 September 2010}} On 27 October 2014, the Spanish court ruled that he would be expelled to Russia but not extradited to Georgia.{{cite news|last1=Cruz|first1=Morcillo|last2=Muñoz|first2=Pablo|title=Zakhar Kalashov, el número 1 de la mafia georgiana, será expulsado mañana a Rusia|language=es|url=http://www.abc.es/espana/20141027/abci-zakhar-kalashov-numero-mafia-201410262013.html|access-date=30 November 2015|publisher=ABC.es|date=27 October 2014}} It was unclear why the court sent him to Russia, where he also has citizenship, instead of extraditing him to Georgia to serve his sentence. He returned to Moscow on 29 October 2014, where he reportedly met with the Criminal Investigation Department of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs for a "preventative" meeting before being released.{{cite news|title=Испания выдала России возможного преемника Деда Хасана|url=http://izvestia.ru/news/578705|access-date=30 November 2015|work=Izvestiya|language=ru|date=29 October 2014}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kalashov, Zakhar}}
Category:Yazidis from Georgia (country)
Category:Gangsters from Georgia (country)