Russian prison tattoos meanings

Explore the intriguing world of Russian prison tattoos and uncover the hidden meanings behind these unique designs. Discover the stories and symbolism behind each tattoo and delve into the rich history of this underground art form.
A high-ranking, authoritative thief (left). In the early 1950s, it became customary for thieves to tattoo dots or small crosses on the knuckles, the number of dots indicating the number of terms. Prison is this thief's home, he is of the highest rank in the thieves' social hierarchy. His ring tattoos show that he was the only underage detainee in his circle of thieves, and that he is an 'anti-social': an inveterate transgressor of the prison regime, who completely refuses to work. Prison Tat, Mob Tattoo, Russian Prison Tattoos, Symbol Tattoos With Meaning, Wörter Tattoos, Gang Tattoos, Russian Tattoo, Kunst Tattoos, Prison Tattoos

Symbols of a life of crime: The fading tattoos on Russia's gangland prisoners that can be read like a criminal underworld CV

These haunting images were taken in the early 1990s by photographer Sergei Vasiliev after he gained access to some of Russia's toughest prisons at the peak of the post-Soviet Union gangland power struggle.

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