In the shadowy lexicon of post-Soviet organized crime, few names carry as much weight—or as much blood—as Tariel Oniani. Known by his infamous moniker, Taro , Oniani represents the brutal transition from the chaotic "Wild West" capitalism of the 1990s to the sophisticated, globalized syndicates of the 21st century.
By the 1980s, he was recognized as one of the most authoritative criminal figures in Moscow. International Expansion and Operation "Wasp"
Born in 1952 in the Georgian mining town of Tkibuli, Oniani turned to crime following the death of his father in a mining accident. He was first convicted of armed robbery at age 17 and was initiated as a while serving his sentence. By the 1980s, he had established himself as a dominant figure in Moscow's criminal underworld. International Expansion and "Operation Avispa"
