The Tradition of Russian Prison Tattoos:
Throughout the 20th century in the Soviet Union the powerful culture behind tattoos being utilized to define one’s significance in the dark criminal path and rank rose within the Russian criminal and prison world. These various designs are constructed to illustrate a specific meaning in the life of crimes of an individual who wears them. This complex tradition continued in growth during the 1930s, reaching its climax in the 1950s and declined in approval during the 1970s and 1980s.
• The dagger pierced through the neck manifests that the prisoner committed homicide while incarcerated, and that he is available to ‘hire’ for future killings. The stars on the knees are the ‘thieves’ stars’, which carry the symbolic meaning ‘I will not kneel before the police’.
• The skull and crossbones symbolize that a prisoner is serving a life sentence. The woman snatching at her dress with a fishing wire is predominantly worn by inmates that were convicted of rape. The words above the waist translate to ‘I fuck poverty and misfortune’.
• The dual-headed eagle is a Russian state symbol that predates to the 15th century, defining the rage against the USSR. The implication of The Statue of Liberty is a yearning for freedom, while the inky figure holding a gun indicates a preparation to commit violence and murder.
• The designs of dollar bills, machine gun stamped with the initials “U.S.” on it and skyscrapers convey this individual’s absolute love for the American mafia-like lifestyle. As for the eyes, they literally translate to “I’m watching over you” (typically over other inmates).
• The eight-pointed stars on the clavicles represents a thief with a superior ranking. The bow tie positioned on the neck was a design frequently forcibly applied to low-level thieves who had disobeyed the thieves’ code of conduct and formed an alliance with the police.
• The devils placed on the shoulders of this inmate displays a hatred of authority. The design of this particular tattoo is known as an “oskal” (meaning ‘grin’ - The baring of teeth towards the system) and are sometimes followed by anti-Soviet texts.
Every design expresses a unique interpretation; a tattoo can no doubt influence the chances of life and death for one who has them. If a prisoner doesn’t stand by their ink, or if they have a “false” tattoo, they’ll be given a sharp object and be asked to remove it. Not removing a tattoo when asked to means the individual will suffer extreme consequences, which could be a savage beating from other prisoners, sexual assault, or even death in some cases. For this reason, tattoos became the most respected and feared culture in the prison world.
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