Killers Inc. (2015)
“Killers Inc.”: A riveting documentary produced by The Organized Crime and Corruption Project (OCCRP), “Killers Inc.” delves into a shadowy world of power, vengeance, and hired assassins. The film emerges from a meticulous two-year investigation that spans multiple countries, unraveling a violent feud between Kremlin-connected businessmen and the ruthless criminal syndicates they employ.
The story begins on a fateful evening in March 2012, when Gherman Gorbuntsov, a controversial Russian banker living in self-imposed exile in England, narrowly survives an assassination attempt. As he enters his East London apartment, bullets tear through the air, leaving him wounded but alive. The burning question: Who orchestrated this hit? The trail leads back to Gorbuntsov’s Russian past and the Kremlin-linked business partners he once trusted.
Meanwhile, Renat Usatii, Gorbuntsov’s archenemy, settles into a new life in the Republic of Moldova, a thousand miles away. Usatii, a Russian-Moldovan politician and business associate of the Kremlin-run Russian Railways, has recently orchestrated the takeover of Gorbuntsov’s largest Moldovan bank. As he prepares for Moldova’s parliamentary elections, his hidden ties to Russian political power and his role in the violent war against Gorbuntsov come to light.
In the heart of Chisinau, Moldova’s capital, OCCRP reporters meet with Ion Druta, known as “The Writer.” Druta, a member of an ultraviolent “vor v zakone” (thief in law) organized crime group, reveals a dark underworld where assassins operate. It’s here that the forces behind Gorbuntsov’s assassination attempt emerge, connecting back to Usatii and the Kremlin’s shadowy dealings.
“Killers Inc.” weaves a chilling narrative of power struggles, betrayal, and lethal vendettas. It exposes the intricate web of alliances, where businessmen’s disputes escalate into life-or-death battles, and hired killers to become pawns in a high-stakes game. Through gripping interviews, hidden meetings, and shocking revelations, the documentary sheds light on a world where lives hang in the balance, and the line between business and brutality blurs.
This compelling film serves as a stark reminder that behind the polished facades of corporate boardrooms lie hidden agendas, and the price of power exacts a deadly toll.
