Been trying for some years to find a game that I read about and was minorly interested in; but, have since then tried to find it numerous times as it's the type of game that I think my wife would really enjoy.

Can't remember the title though, so maybe some gamers here can help me.

It's a game themed in the politics of Russia but where you are leading a revolution or some faction. You can work with the Russian mafia or may even be a member of it (can't remember if that was so) but I know you have associates that give you bonuses and you can send on missions. Large part of the game though is managing the political factors from what I remember reading where you have to keep the population happy, damage reputation of rivals and their factions, manage your team and there may have been tactical or other elements to the missions but again don't recall that in detail.

The only Russian politics games I've been able to find since then are 'The Great Game', 'Politics', 'Balance of Power' which don't look like anything like the game I remember reading about.

The OP said the game was set in Russia, that game is in some fictional country (can't remember what it's called).

There is Crisis in the Kremlin, but I don't remember Mafia connections or even "missions" from this game, so it's probably not the one you meant.

A guess

Revolution Under Siege - http://www.armchairgeneral.com/revolution-under-siege-released.htm

Empire Earth had a Russian campaign...not sure if this was the one you were thinking about though.

I think this one must be it, even if it's a fictional Russian breakaway state Novistrana, the description on wiki is very close to what I remember.

Thank you all for the other suggestions though. I remember reading about Crisis in the Kremlin too, and it is interesting as a historical strategy but not quite the one I was looking for. Revolution under siege would certainly fit the strategic Russian aspects but is much more of a wargame and Empire Earth is fun, have actually played that one, but the one I've been looking for definitely wasn't that one.

I'll have to see if I can find a copy of Republic now and give it a try.

Glad you got sorted :)