“Some... gambling companies were controlled by ex-KGB, and as such ...pushed hard to get the {{w|Russian mafia}} to submit to their authority. ...Several reputed members of the Tambov and Malyshev gangs became acquainted with Putin at this time. ...Reputed crime bosses who might not have easily received visas to Western countries now arrived as members of official cultural delegations and did their business abroad under ...protection of ...delegations.”