In the Soviet Union, during the 20th century, Russian criminal and prison communities maintained a culture of using tattoos. They performed that culture to indicate members’ criminal career and ranking. For those imprisoned under the Gulag system of the Soviet era, the tattoos served to distinguish a criminal leader or thief in law from a political prisoner. Well, now we will share the top 12 Russian prison tattoos and their meanings.
Top 12 Russian Prison Tattoo and Their Meanings
Between the placement of the tattoo on a prisoner’s body and the image itself, each tattoo depicts a distinctive story. Also, it imparted crucial information to other prisoners in a correctional facility. Need to know that the tattoos must be earned. If a prisoner wears an undeserved tattoo, then a prisoner risks a beating or worse.
Here are top 12 Russian prison tattoos and their meanings:
1. Thieves’ stars
Usually, the prisoners wear the Thieves’ stars to convey their status. When a prisoner wears the Thieves’ stars tattoo on the knees, it denotes a prisoner who commands respect. The implied meaning of that tattoo is he/she will never get on his/her knees in front of anyone. While the Thieves’ stars tattoo on the chest signifies a higher rank. It is only the most respected prisoners who are able to wear the thieves’ stars on the chest.
2. Portraits of Stalin and Lenin
In the 1900s, the prisoners wore Portraits of Stalin and Lenin tattoos on their chests to protect them from a firing squad. They believed that a firing squad would never follow orders to shoot such an image. Probably have originated as a sign of pride among the prisoners after the Bolshevik Revolution, as former prisoners were now in control of the country. Usually, the authorities would not shoot at any images of their leaders. They would shoot the prisoners in the back of the head.
3. Spider
Prisoners who wear the spider crawling tattoo on the right shoulder, it is indicative of a thief. If the spider is crawling up the shoulder, it means that the thief is still active. And if a prisoner steals from his/her fellow prisoners, he/she must forcibly tattoo a rat on him/her. On the other hand, if the spider is crawling down, it means that the thief is done with the criminal life and has left the bad lifestyle.
4. Epaulettes
Typically, an epaulette or ornamental shoulder piece is discovered on a military uniform. The prisoners wear the Epaulettes tattoos to signify rank within the Thieves in Law. There are some known ranks; Captains, lieutenants, and colonels.
5. Oskal (Big Grin)
Leopards, tigers, or snarling wolves are called Oskals. in Russian word, Oskals means “Big Grin”. Usually, the prisoners wear these tattoos to indicate aggression or hostility toward the authorities.
6. Cathedrals (Kremlin)
The Cathedrals (Kremlins) tattoos denote time spent incarcerated. For your information, these are iconic Russian prison tattoos. The more domes that prisoners have, it indicates the number of sentences they have served over their lifetime. Usually, these tattoos can be found anywhere on the body. A cathedral or Kremlin on the arm, hand, or wrist represents a sentence of more than five years.
7. Skulls
A skull tattoo has a meaning to brave against authority. The implied meaning is to be patient against Soviet power. A skull tattoo was to prove that they were not afraid of authority. Prisoners get these skull tattoos by standing up to figures of authority, such as correctional officers.
8. Rings
Ring tattoos on the hands and fingers were common, and are immediately indicative of a convict. These tattoos have various meanings; type of crimes the convict committed, aggression against authority, or sentences served.
9. Woman
If the prisoners wear the Woman tattoos on their chest, it means that they have been initiated into the Thieves in Law. This tattoo usually combines with a rose. On the other hand, if the Woman tattoo is placed on the stomach, the tattoo denotes a prostitute.
10. Manacles
Manacle tattoos are another sign of sentencing. Occasionally, these tattoos are paired with cathedrals discovered on the hands. Manacles mean that the sentence the prisoner served was more than five years in length.
11. Grudge
A grudge tattoo is usually portrayed as a dog baring its teeth. If a prisoner wears this tattoo, it implies a grudge with authorities, or a grudge with life in general. Surely, it indicates humiliation for police and other authority figures.
12. Flowers
A prisoner who wears Flowers (tulip or rose) tattoo that is wrapped in barbed wire or wrapped around a dagger, it denotes that a prisoner was imprisoned before the age of 18.
Well, the text above is an explanation about top 12 Russian prison tattoos and their meanings. Once again, remember that if the prisoners wear undeserved tattoos, then their tattoos would be removed forcibly from them before they were further punished with beatings or worse.
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