The Big Store

 Grigory "Grisha" Vladimirovich Berezin

Grisha came to America in '85 after serving two years in Afghanistan. He's tall, lanky and wears a patch to cover up the eye he lost to shrapnel in the war. His brother Lev got him hooked up with the Potato Bag Gang. Every month Grisha sends money back to his wife in Russia. The rest he spends on impressing his American girlfriend.

Grisha's companion, Misha, came with him from the old country. They knew one another from Gomel.

Issue: ?
Edges: Combat training, Eye patch
Connections: Melanie (American girlfriend)
Screen Presence: 1,3,2,2,1

 Oleg Koslov

Oleg Koslov defected to the U.S., leaving behind his wife and children in the hopes that his knowledge of Soviet space technology would win him a place in America. Unfortunately he had been handed off by the KGB as a decoy and his knowledge was useless to the CIA. Soon after arriving in the states in 1987, he was cut loose with nothing but his uniform. In the years since then he subsisted by selling Russian kitsch on the streets to tourists, making a meager living and pining for his lost family.

Issue: Broken hearted
Edges: Nothing to Live For, Good English
Connections: Fashionistas
Screen Presence: 1,2,1,2,3

 Ilya Yaroslavich Pirogov

Ilya Yaroslavich Pirogov is a wet-behind-the-ears newcomer, sent from the old country to keep out of trouble. He is Lavrov's nephew and lives with him.

Issue: Redemption/Assimilation
Edges: B&E Man, Gay
Connections: Aunt Marfa
Screen Presence: 2,3,1,1,2

 Yakov

Yakov

Issue: Hates America
Edges: Respect/enforce rules, Tattoo artist
Connections: Babushka grandma
Screen Presence: 2,1,2,3,1

 Vassili Simonovich Lavrov

Vassili Simonovich Lavrov is an old enforcer, long out of the business and raising a family. That is, until he got pulled back in by his nephew Ilya.

Issue: The Past - no escape, no way out
Edges: Reputation, The good life
Connections: Judith (wife)
Screen Presence: 1,1,3,2,2

 Mikhail "Misha" Grigorovich Sokolov

Mikhail "Misha" Grigorovich Sokolov immigrated to the U.S. in his mid-twenties by posing as a jew. Having spent some time in Soviet prisons, he bears the tattoos of his station, along with a mark of shame- a forced tattoo on his forehead indicating his tendency to skirt the edges of the thieves' laws.

MIsha's time in the states has been relatively short, but he has been learning quickly. working as an independent taxi driver has given him an opportunity to find out who's who and where the action is in the five burroughs. He is ambitious and motivated to succeed- it's the land of opportunity, and the bulk of the Russian criminal tradition has yet to arrive on these shores. Now is the time for smart, motivated men to make their mark in the world.

Misha's companion, Grisha, came with him from the old country. They knew one another from Gomel.

Issue: Ambition - It's our turn
Edges: Cab diver, Knows non-Russians
Connections: Rubin Goldenthal (fence)
Screen Presence: 3,1,2,1,2

Bad Guy

A bad dude with a bad 'tude.