What do Russian gang tattoos mean?
The images worn by the Thieves in Law showed what deeds had been committed to land them in prison, their ranking in the gang, and how long they had been behind bars. The more tattoos an inmate had, the longer he had been in prison, and the more respect that he received.
Why do Russian gangsters have tattoos?
Specifically among those imprisoned under the Gulag system of the Soviet era, the tattoos served to differentiate a criminal leader or thief in law from a political prisoner.
What does a spider tattoo mean in Russia?
A spider in a web is a thief’s tattoo meaning that the prisoner is walking along a criminal path. The book the spider crawls over is the Criminal Code of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. He has been repeatedly punished for violating the rules of the penal colony and is committed to a life of crime.
What does a cat tattoo mean in Russia?
The tattooed letters “KOT,” which is “cat” in Russian, meant “native prison resident.”
What do Russian gangsters wear?
Gopniks are often seen wearing Adidas or Puma tracksuits (mostly Adidas), which were popularized by the 1980 Moscow Olympics Soviet team.
What do two stars on the shoulders mean?
Stars on the shoulders show that an inmate is a criminal ‘authority’. The medals are awards that existed before the revolution and as such are signs of defiance towards the Soviet regime. Facebook Twitter. The rose on this man’s chest means he turned 18 in prison.
What do eyes mean in Russian tattoos?
The eyes mean ‘I’m watching over you’ (the other inmates). Facebook Twitter. This is a variation on the myth of Prometheus, who is chained to a rock in eternal punishment after tricking Zeus. The sailing ship means the bearer does not engage in normal work; he is a travelling thief who is prone to escape.
What do stars on knees mean?
Depending on the location on the body, the stars convey a prisoner’s status. When worn on the knees, the stars are a sign of a prisoner who commands respect. The implied meaning is “I will never get on my knees in front of anyone.”
What Gopnik means?
A gopnik (Russian: гопник, romanized: gopnik, pronounced [ˈɡopnʲɪk]; Ukrainian: гопник, romanized: hopnyk; Belarusian: гопнік, romanized: hopnik) is a member of a delinquent subculture in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and in other former Soviet republics — a young man (or a woman, a gopnitsa) of working-class background …
What does Vatnik mean?
Vatnik or vatnyk (Russian: ватник) is a political slur, used in Russia and other post-Soviet states based on an internet meme that was introduced in 2011 by Anton Chadskiy, which denotes a steadfast jingoistic follower of propaganda from the Russian government.