Police arrest suspected crime boss sought by Russia

Police in Athens have arrested a suspected crime boss with the underworld title of "vor v zakone" - or thief in law - wanted by Russia under an Interpol red notice, police officials have said.

Europe has stepped up its fight against Russian-speaking organized crime groups since the assassination of a clan leader in 2013 in Moscow triggered a power struggle among the crime network.

Europol, the EU-wide police liaison agency, says the "vory v zakone" (thieves in law) network is a tightly-structured type of criminal organization originating in the underworld of the Soviet Union, which fell apart in 1991.

Police arrested the 51-year-old Georgian, whose name has not been released, on Tuesday after receiving a tipoff that he was planning to travel to Athens. A red notice had been issued by Interpol against him at the request of Russia.

He was arrested at a...