Also known as Sasha-Macedonian,[Note 2] Alexander the Great and Superkiller,[2] Solonik was involved in Russian Mob activity for much of the 1990s until disappearing after his second escape from prison.

However, after six months he was expelled for discrediting the rank of police officer, and upon returning home, Solonik obtained a job as a gravedigger at the Kurgan cemetery.

His colleagues at the cemetery were Andrei Kolegov, Oleg Nelubin and Vitaliy Ignatov, who in the near future will become the leaders of the Kurgan criminal organization.

[citation needed] However, the story is doubtful as other people from a gang unrelated to Solonik were convicted in 2008 for Kvantrishvili's murder, and rumours spread that he was supported by Chechen groups.

In fact, Otari Kvantrishvili had been murdered by an Orekhovskaya gang hitman, Alexei Sherstobitov ("Lesha Soldat"), who confessed in this crime after he was captured in 2006.

In 1995, Solonik escaped prison yet again when his jailer, Sergey Menshikov, rumoured to be a mob sleeper agent, provided him with a pistol and climbing equipment.

Having placed a mannequin under the blanket of his bed to delay pursuit, Solonik escaped using the climbing equipment to rappel down from the prison roof.

In Greece, Solonik set up his own organization of around 50 men, which dealt in drug smuggling and contract killings, and bought several villas in an Athens suburb.

Solonik's reputation now grew to legendary proportions with the public, and he was featured in Russia's top ten "most wanted" list.

[citation needed] In February 1997, Greek newspapers published articles that claimed a Russian Mob boss had been found dead 15 miles (24 km) from Athens.