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Trade in gall bladders of brown bears (Ursus arctos) has been practiced in Russia for at least a century. Trade increased dramatically starting in 1991 as a consequence of opening state borders, weakening state control, and increasing economic needs of local people. From 1991-94 bile was traded throughout Russia, most intensively in the far east where sophisticated dealer networks have apparently developed. Analysis of prices for bile in Russia and other countries in 1994-95 indicated that the major destinations for bile from Russia are Japan, Macau, South Korea, and Taiwan. Bile from Russian bears may also contribute to medicinal markets in oriental communities in Western Europe. Thousands of gall bladders are smuggled from Russia annually and it is still not clear where these go. Customs control is very weak and probably will not be improved in the near future. I analyze recent trends in trade of brown bear parts in Russia and adjacent countries, based on interviews with local mammalogists from spring 1993 and 1994.