All Articles

Full list of articles across all facets of Russian prison culture. Explore our archives for history, traditions, legends, tattoos, hierarchy, locations, music and more.

Fenya — The Prison Language (V–G–D)

The next section of our Russian prison slang glossary (Fenya) covers words from V to D, revealing how inmates communicate through coded terms and idioms.

The Prison Language, Part I: A–B

From “авторитет” to “блатной” — discover the secret prison language of Russia. The first part of our Fenya glossary explains the slang, traditions, and codes used behind bars.

Butyrka Prison — From a Hussar Settlement to Moscow’s Main Detention Center

From a 17th-century hussar village to Moscow’s largest pretrial detention center — Butyrka has witnessed revolutions, repressions, and escapes. Its history reflects every era of Russian punishment, from Tolstoy’s visits to overcrowded 1990s cells.

Russian Prison Tattoo Abbreviations — glossary and translations

A look inside the coded world of Russian prison culture — its tattoos, slang, and unwritten rules. Each symbol and phrase carries decades of history, reflecting both rebellion and hierarchy within the criminal underworld.

Russian Criminal Tattoos: Betrayal, Hatred, and Secret Codes of the Underworld

An overview of Russian prison tattoos with deep symbolic meaning — from the Crying Muse to devils and burning stakes. These tattoos reflect betrayal, hatred of authority, vengeance, and loyalty in the criminal world.

Vasya Brilliant: Life, Crimes, and Death of a Soviet Thief-in-Law

The story of Vasya Brilliant — a Soviet thief-in-law who spent his life behind bars, defended the thieves’ code, and became a legend of the criminal underworld.

Prison Tattoo Symbols — Cards, Saber, Bayonet, Barbed Wire, Bear, Arrow and Key

A breakdown of classic prison tattoo symbols — from card cheats and burglars to safecrackers and repeat offenders.

The “Bitch War” in the Gulag

A concise account of the Gulag’s internal “Bitch War”: why the criminal underworld split after WWII, how violence escalated in 1947–1953, the administration’s tactics, and what this feud changed in Soviet criminal culture.

Russian Prison Tattoo Meanings: Symbols of Power, Violence, and Defiance

Each Russian prison tattoo carries a deeper meaning. Discover the symbolism behind the tiger’s head, the chained cross, the compass rose, and other iconic designs worn by thieves, enforcers, and rebels behind bars.

Polish Thieves in Soviet Prisons: History and Conflict in the Criminal World

After the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, thousands of criminals from former Polish territories ended up in Soviet camps. Known as “Polish thieves,” they entered a world ruled by strict Thieves’ Law — and broke its rules. Their behavior sparked violent clashes with Russian criminals, marking a dark chapter in the history of the Gulag.

Polar Owl Prison: Life and Secrets of Russia’s Harshest Arctic Colony

Explore the brutal reality of IK-18 “Polar Owl,” Russia’s most notorious Arctic prison for life-sentenced criminals. History, scandals, regime, and infamous inmates.

White Swan Prison: History and Inside Look

The “White Swan” is one of the most heavily guarded prisons in Russia. Known for its harsh regime and infamous inmates, it holds hundreds of life-sentenced convicts under constant surveillance.

Red, Black, and Green Zones: Power and Hierarchy in Russian Prisons

Russian prisons are commonly divided into red, black, and more recently, green zones — each with its own unwritten rules, hierarchies, and forms of control. This article explores how these divisions affect inmates’ lives and relationships with both the authorities and each other.

Church Domes, Beetles, and the "King of All Suits": Symbolism of Russian Prison Tattoos

Russian prison tattoos often carry deep and specific meanings. Domes may signify years spent behind bars, beetles offer luck to thieves, and a crown with card suits tells a story of shame. These marks are not just ink — they're a language of power, status, and survival.

Solovki: From Monastery to Gulag

Once a spiritual fortress of Russian Orthodoxy, the Solovetsky Monastery became one of the first Soviet labor camps — a place where nobles, priests, intellectuals, and criminals were thrown together under brutal rule. This is the story of how faith, violence, and ideology collided on an isolated northern island.

Who Is a "Vor v Zakone"? The Criminal Elite of Russian Prisons

The "Vor v Zakone" — or thief-in-law — is not just a title, but a high-status role in the criminal underworld of Russia. With it comes power, obligation, and brutal consequences for failure. Here's what it means to become one, and the responsibilities it carries.

Origins of the "Vory v Zakone": Russia’s Criminal Elite

Explore the history behind the notorious "Vory v Zakone" ("Thieves in Law"), the influential criminal caste that arose from post-revolutionary chaos, shaping Russia's criminal underworld for decades.

Russian Prison Tattoo Meanings: Compass Rose, Spider, Deer & Cat Symbols

Discover the hidden language of prison tattoos—from the authority of the compass rose to the drug-user spider, the freedom-seeking deer, and the “cat” symbol of a lifelong inmate.

Black Dolphin Prison: Inside Russia’s Harshest Maximum-Security Colony

Black Dolphin (IK-6) is Russia’s toughest prison for lifers. From a papier-mâché dolphin that gave the camp its nickname to hooded transfers, 90-minute “walks” in concrete cages, and a parole system that rejects nearly every application, this article reveals the un-varnished reality of life behind its triple-barred doors.

Russian Prison Tattoos: More Than Just Ink

In Soviet and Russian prisons, tattoos were more than art — they marked rank, reputation, and survival. From handmade ink and improvised tools to deadly risks and coded meanings, this article explores the brutal and symbolic world of prison tattooing behind bars.