The Silent Stories Told by Russian Prison Tattoos

Tattoos are a way of expressing our views, opinions, and beliefs to others without outwardly shouting it out to the world. We can tell others what god we believe in, where we are from, or maybe even what our favorite band is by the art that we permanently get inked into our skin. Personally, I have quite a few tattoos and while they don’t hold incredibly deep meaning, they do tell others what I like and what I find appealing.

But during the Soviet era, Russian prisoners revered tattoos as a visual manifesto of their life, the horrendous crimes they might have committed and enjoyed doing, or their strong feelings about Stalin. These attitudes about tattoos carried on to older generations who strongly relate tattoos to hardened criminals, many of them carrying strong negative feelings towards them in general. It's hard to blame them; while many other countries do not have such a history with this culture of underground tattoo biographies, Soviet Russia was one that was rife with it. Nowadays, many Russian millennials find great aesthetic joy in the artwork that they choose to get inked, finding that this mode of self-expression is important to their self identity.

Unlike South Korea, visible tattoos are completely legal in this century, however, tattoos that depict extreme ideologies or hateful symbols are subject to a hefty fine upwards of two thousand rubles.

What originally got me hooked on the fascinating culture of tattoos in prison was the infamous cat, or кот, tattoo that women who dabbled in thievery often adorned, usually on the backs of their hands. Cats are commonly used symbols of thievery, and no better way to show off your kleptomania than to get one of these sassy kitties inked. Not only female prisoners appreciated this symbolism, many members of the Russian mafia also chose to opt for the feline brand.

(Image courtesy of FUEL Design)

One might correctly assume that since prison tattoos are done in, well, prison, they are incredibly unsanitary and often leads to health problems later on for the well-decorated criminal. According to Vice, prisoners would use “scorched rubber and urine” as ink with a decked out electric shaver as the instrument. This had led to a number of cases of syphilis, sepsis, tetanus, and a whole slew of other charming infections.

Political leanings, to put it nicely, were also expressed through tattoos. Those who were in favor of past administrations would opt for portraits of Stalin, Lenin, or their favorite Bolshevik, but those on the opposition might favor the mocking characetures of these figures. Of course, there were plenty of USSR hammer-and-sickles, double headed eagles, and much more sinister icons such as swastikas and SS symbolism.

In the above image, not only are there two political figurehead portraits, but there is also a long dagger through the neck. This tattoo choice shows the observer that he is or was a hitman, enjoys being one, and is available to carry out hits. Quite a permanent career choice.

The worldwide culture of tattooing is a broad and interchangeable art, but there is none quite like the unspoken language of prison tattoos in Russia. Up to as many as 98 percent of male Russian high-security inmates were adorned with several tattoos, many reported that they had not had any before being incarcerated. If a prisoner was suspected of having a tattoo that expressed something that they do not stand by or an action they had not actually committed, word of it will spread fast and the prisoner would be forced to remove it by other inmates, or suffer “serious consequences”.

This ritualistic camaraderie is not as popular as it was during the Soviet era, however, the artwork and symbolism plays a role in further understanding how criminals played their part in society and how the establishment affected those in the offending class. It is a highly cherished piece of history among twenty-first century tattoo artists.

Until next time!

• Lilya C.