Vyacheslav Ivankov

Russian crime boss laid to rest

2009-10-13T13:42:00.000-07:00

One of Russia's most infamous gangsters has been buried at a prestigious Moscow cemetery amid unprecedented security.

Hundreds of representatives of various underworld groups are reported to have attended the funeral of Vyacheslav "Yaponchik" Ivankov.

The ceremony was closed to the media at the request of his family. Police were present but no arrests were made.

Read full article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8305571.stm

Russian crime boss Ivankov dies in hospital

2009-10-09T11:41:00.000-07:00

Vyacheslav Ivankov, a Russian crime boss who spent nearly 10 years in a U.S. prison, died Friday in a Moscow hospital, two months after being shot several times coming out of a restaurant. He was 69.

His death was announced by the main federal investigative agency, which said the cause had not yet been established.

Ivankov had undergone several operations since the shooting but was never well enough to leave the hospital, state news agency RIA Novosti said.

Read full article here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/world/story/878904.html

Attack on crime lord could be part of gang war

2009-07-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

Criminal leader Vyacheslav Ivankov was shot in an apparent assassination attempt in Moscow and is now in a serious condition. The attack is believed to be part of a gang conflict he was attempting to mediate.
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Ivankov, also known by his nickname “Yaponchik” is something of a legend in Russia’s criminal world, having started his career back in the Soviet Union. He has been living outside of Russia in recent years, but is still believed to be an influential figure among criminal gangs.

Read full article here: http://www.russiatoday.com/Top_News/2009-07-29/attack-on-crime-lord-could-be-part-of-gang-war.html

Russian mafia godfather Vyacheslav Ivankov shot in Moscow

2009-07-28T11:40:00.000-07:00

Vyacheslav Ivankov, one of the Russian mafia’s most infamous godfathers, was fighting for his life after an assassination attempt in Moscow. He was shot three times in the stomach as he left the Thai Elephant restaurant in the city.

Police later found a sniper’s rifle in a stolen vehicle abandoned nearby.

The crime boss underwent emergency surgery as prosecutors opened an investigation. A security service source told the Ria-Novosti agency that Mr Ivankov, 69, may have been the target of a revenge attack after he had sought to mediate a dispute between rival gangs involved in gambling rackets.

Read full article here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6732604.ece?

Yaponchik Doesn’t Look Like the Killer, It Turned Out

2005-07-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

Moscow City Court started yesterday, July 4, the close trial against Vyacheslav Ivankov, who is accused of having killed two Turks in the Moscow Fidan restaurant. Former guard of the restaurant, Andrey Ozerov was called in to witness. He said he doesn’t know the accused and saw quite another man on the scene of the crime.

At the start of the trial, the prosecutor said Ivankov is accused of having shot two Turks in Fidan restaurant on February 29, 1992, just because he disliked them. Ivankov lawyers specified in return their client admits no guilt. Then the material witness, police former sergeant Andrey Ozerov was called in. Ozerov used to guard Fidan and was generally viewed as a sort of the sheet anchor for the prosecutors.

Read full article here: http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?id=588843

Moscow mob suspect can't duck murder rap

2005-04-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

A prominent Russian organized crime suspect lost a battle Friday to escape three murder charges, Interfax news agency reported.

The Moscow City Court rejected a petition filed by Vyacheslav Ivankov, also known as Yaponchik or Little Japanese, asking the court to drop murder charges against him as the 10-year statute of limitations had expired, Interfax said.

"In its statement, the court ruled that we have 10 days to appeal this decision. And we certainly will do so," Ivankov's lawyer Sergei Kotelevsky told the news agency.

Read full article here: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2005/04/29/Moscow-mob-suspect-cant-duck-murder-rap/UPI-20931114822821/

Russian 'godfather' returns home

2004-07-14T11:36:00.000-07:00

A notorious Russian criminal boss has been deported back home to face murder charges after serving a jail sentence in the US.

Vyacheslav Ivankov, nicknamed "the Russian godfather", arrived in Moscow on Wednesday after his release from a US prison the previous day.

Ivankov, who had been in the US since 1993, was convicted in 1996 for the extortion of $3.5m from fellow emigres.

Read full article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3893329.stm

A RUSSIAN GOODFELLA? HE'D ICE AGENTS: FBI

1996-03-10T11:33:00.000-08:00

Russian gangsters have a murder contract out on the two FBI agents whose work has crime godfather Vyacheslav Ivankov heading for trial in Brooklyn Federal Court this month, senior FBI officials say.

Agents Lester McNulty and Michael McCall have been placed under special watch as Ivankov prepares his defense against charges that he tried to extort $3.5 million from two Russian-born businessmen from New Jersey.

To encourage prompt payment, Ivankov had thugs beat one businessman's father to death on a Moscow subway platform, the agents said. But instead of cooperating, the New Jersey businessmen went to the FBI.

Read full article here: http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/1996/03/10/1996-03-10_a_russian_goodfella_______he.html

HE SWIPES AT EXTORT RAP

1995-06-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

Vyacheslav Ivankov, the reputed godfather of the Russian mob, has always claimed to have an extraordinary faith in God, which is good.

He's going to need it, starting today, the first of what could be many Sundays that the irascible, bearded boss will spend in a Brooklyn federal prison following his arrest Thursday in a $3.5 million extortion scam.

Authorities, who consider Ivankov to be among the most powerful mobsters in the world, say he and his underlings tried to extort millions of dollars from two Manhattan-based businessmen. They then allegedly murdered the father of one after the money was not paid, according to a complaint filed Thursday.

Read full article here: http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/1995/06/11/1995-06-11_he_swipes_at_extort_rap.html