Meelis Lao

Meelis Lao

The Eastern Godfather

Welcome to a world where power, intrigue, and the shadowy underbelly of the Eastern Hemisphere collide. Brace yourself for an unforgettable journey as we delve into the captivating story of "The Eastern Godfather" by Meelis Lao. In this remarkable true tale, Meelis Lao takes us on a roller-coaster ride through history, immersing us in the tumultuous aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse. Against all odds, he rose from obscurity to the pages of history.

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Experience the birth of the infamous Russian mob through the eyes of the only outsider at the high table with Russia's most notorious gangsters. Meelis Lao reveals a hidden world of government mafia ties, string-pulling, and backroom deals that shaped the rise of Vladimir Putin.

Have you ever considered which Italian tailor to wear to lunch with an oligarch that also suits a fight for your life? Can you really fit a million dollars into a briefcase? Do you know what it feels like to be shot? Not once, not twice but seven different times? No? Well, Meelis Lao does. This is a shatteringly honest and deeply personal account of what life was like in the glamorous, dirty and gangster-ridden 90's of Estonia and Russia. Read it. You'll book a flight to Tallinn for the sequel!

James Canning-Cooke

Opus Growth Partners, UK

EXPLOSIVE AND GRIPPING. Eastern Godfather exposes the brutal world of the Russian mafia, by the man who rose from street boxer to national kingpin. Meelis Lao is notorious in his native Estonia, not merely for his rise to the top of the gang world, but for the extraordinary twist in his tale. Tired of the bloodshed, he defected to work with the government and drove the Russian mob out of Estonia. This is his astonishing tale.