[ruslan]

Paying "protection" fees to Krysha (as you named it) was common in mid 90th when government was weak and criminals ruled Russia. Now criminals pay to gov if they don't want to follow Khadarkovsky/Ukos story (thank mr. Putin). I'm not in Moscow (yet do visit it regularily), but I still cannot imagine paying to FSB or to Militia or whatever if you are doing legal business. The thing is most multi-billion businesses started in Russia in 90th are still being ruled by criminals and one way or another are illegal or involved in money washing.

I have friends who are doing business for more than 10 years (mostly in telecommunication and software industry), no one pays for "protection".

The others most corrupted spheres in Russia, beside natural resources, are land estate and development business, mostly because there are huge money rolling around. Avoid this three and nobody will "care" about you or your business :)