How the Kremlin uses Italian organized crime groups to sponsor pro-Russian forces in Slovakia

This article from the Robert Lansing Institute details how the Kremlin collaborates with Italian organized crime groups to sponsor pro-Russian forces in Slovakia. These links were first uncovered following the 2018 assassination of Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak, who was probing political and mafia connections. The Kremlin appears to use these criminal networks to funnel funds and equipment to pro-Russian entities within Slovakia, including possible ties to paramilitary training and intelligence operations. The Italian mafia acts as a facilitator for money laundering, illicit arms shipments, and support operations, reportedly with tacit or direct involvement from Russian intelligence and security services. The article cites multiple investigations and credible sources, including Slovak officials and Western intelligence assessments, highlighting the geopolitical threat posed by this hybrid warfare nexus. It further describes cooperation between Slovak politicians, Russian intelligence, and organized crime to destabilize Slovakia and promote Kremlin influence.