What do Russian criminal tattoos mean?

The tattoos show a “service record” of achievements and failures, prison sentences and the type of work a criminal does. They might also represent his “thief’s family”, naming others within hearts or with the traditional tomcat image.

Is it OK to get Russian prison tattoos?

Only the most respected can wear the thieves’ stars in that area of the body. The tattoos must be earned, and an inmate wearing an undeserved tattoo risks a beating or worse. In the 1900s, prisoners believed placing tattooed portraits of Lenin and Stalin on their chests would protect them from a firing squad.

What do the Russian star tattoos mean?

authority
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.

What do prisoners tattoos mean?

In some places, the tattoo can mean a lengthy prison sentence, while in others it signifies that the wearer has committed murder. If the teardrop is just an outline, it can symbolize an attempted murder. It can also mean that one of the inmate’s friends was murdered and that they are seeking revenge.

What does a moon tattoo mean?

Universally, the moon is the symbol of growth and change. Moreover, it symbolizes the night and passing of time, and it is a very popular image in tattoo art, unlike the sun as the symbol of permanency and eternal life.

Why tattoos are forbidden in Japan?

Tattoo Ban The laws of tattooing in Japan have fluctuated throughout the centuries. In 1872 tattoos of all kinds were prohibited to help give an appearance of civilization and sophistication throughout the country. This prohibition resulted in an increase in arrests and tattoo artists moving their shops underground.

Why are Russian tattoos so popular in prison?

There is a reason that Russian tattoos are the most feared and respected thing in prison society. Far from being merely personal, they carry a burden of meaning that is used as a highly coded form of communication to tell a story of each inmate’s corrupted past.

What do tattoos on prisoners’ chests mean?

Matching eight-pointed stars tattooed on an inmate’s chest, just below the collarbones, indicate to other prisoners that the branded inmate is a professional criminal. “When a convict has the same symbol tattooed on his kneecaps,” says Bronnikov, “it means that he has an anarchical world view: ‘I do not bow to other powers.

What do Russian tattoos mean?

Russian tattoos can be thought of like a military decoration, they can only be awarded after a crime has been committed. For instance, a tattoo of a dagger through the neck symbolizes that a convict has murdered someone while in prison and is now a hitman available for hire.

Why can’t you get tattoos in Russia?

Since tattooing is forbidden by prison authorities, the practice has been forced into the unsanitary conditions of the underground. Russian tattoos can be thought of like a military decoration, they can only be awarded after a crime has been committed.