The members of the Brothers’ Circle designated by the US Department of Treasury are the group’s alleged leader Temuri Mirzoyev, Lasha Shushanashvili, Vladimir Vagin, and Koba Shemazashvili. All four were “designated for acting on behalf of, or providing support to, the Brothers’ Circle or its members.” Additionally, Kakhaber Shushanashvili was designated as “acting for or on behalf of, or providing support to, Lasha Shushanashvili.”
On July 24, 2011 President Barack Obama identified the Brothers’ Circle as a TCO. Seven other members and associates of the group were designated in February.
According to the Department of Treasury, the Brothers' Circle is “composed of leaders and senior members of several Eurasian criminal groups.” The group has a multi-ethnic membership, and it is based mainly in the countries of the former Soviet Union. However, they operate across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.
The Department of Treasury further describes the group as the “coordinating body for several criminal networks, mediating disputes between the individual criminal networks and directing member criminal activity globally.”
Temuri Mirzoyev was identified as a crime boss by the Russian authorities, and was arrested in 2006. Vladimir Vagin has been wanted by Russia since 2009, and has seven convictions on his record. After fleeing to the United Arab Emirates, Vagin escaped in 2010, and his trail was lost.
Lasha Shushanashvili was identified as being in “overall charge of a criminal organization,” and his brother Kakhaber Shushanashvili, along with Koba Shemazashvili, were identified as his subordinates.
“This action marks the next step in Treasury’s ongoing efforts to target major transnational criminal organizations. Today’s designations expose links among these criminals and serve to protect the United States financial system from their illicit activity,” said David S. Cohen, the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
