When I opened my law firm, Firestone Duncan, in Moscow in 1993, I was aware of the dangers of doing business in Russia. The stories about "mafia" groups of tracksuited thugs extorting businesses were well known to me. What I never expected was that the Russian mafia would merge with the government; its members are now the same officials who are supposed to be protecting the public.
As far as I know, in 90s mafia had the strongest influence on government's decisions in Russia. Then again, it might have really became the government. I'm too young to remember and moved from the Soviet Union some time ago.