Photo: Dimitar Stoyanov, BIRD Russian Elites’ Connections to Bulgaria’s Largest ‘Crime Group’ Leading Russian defense figures bought luxury apartments in a Black Sea resort controlled by an organization U.S. diplomats called one of the country’s largest crime syndicates Several heads of Russian state-owned companies — including acquaintances of President Vladimir Putin — have residences in a Bulgarian Black Sea resort controlled by TIM — an organization U.S.

Several heads of Russian state-owned companies — including acquaintances of President Vladimir Putin — have residences in a Bulgarian Black Sea resort controlled by TIM — an organization U.S. diplomats named one of Bulgaria’s largest crime organizations and which was created by communist-era military and intelligence officers with connections at the highest state level.

Photo: Dimitar Stoyanov, BIRD Russian Elites’ Connections to Bulgaria’s Largest ‘Crime Group’ Leading Russian defense figures bought luxury apartments in a Black Sea resort controlled by an organization U.S. diplomats called one of the country’s largest crime syndicates Several heads of Russian state-owned companies — including acquaintances of President Vladimir Putin — have residences in a Bulgarian Black Sea resort controlled by TIM — an organization U.S.

This Story is Also Available in English Geere The leaders of Russian state -owned companies, including familiar President Vladimir Putin, settled near the port city of Varna at the oldest Black Sea resort of Bulgaria. This resort is controlled by the local Tim group, which in American diplomatic dispatches was called the largest “criminal organization” created by former military and special services with ties at a high state level.