The mark of Cain: the russian criminal tattoos (VII)

In the recent years, even in the russian prisons the criminal tattoos are slowly becoming unfashionable and many of the ex-convicts are trying to get rid of the tattoos (usually, the methods used to remove the tattoos are causing damages to the skin and permanent scarring).

The mark of Cain: the russian criminal tattoos (VI)

The criminal tattoos are becoming less and less popular in the russian prisons. Most of the new inmates don't know anything about the meanings of the old criminal tattoos and they are getting all kind of tattoos.

According to the old inmates, in the past times, the inmates used to have to answer for their tattoos and harsh punishments were meted out to inmates who couldn't give the right answer. The usual punishments included severe beatings, the breaking of the arms of the offenders and the cutting off of the tattoo along with the skin.

The mark of Cain: the russian criminal tattoos (V)

The mark of Cain: the russian criminal tattoo (V)

Getting a tattoo in prison can be very risky for the health; AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis and syphilis are just a few examples of diseases that can be transmitted through tattooing.
There are over 100.000 convicts with TB in the russian prisons, and aprox 20.000 of them have an incurable form of tuberculosis.

The mark of Cain: the russian criminal tattoos (IV)

The mark of Cain: the russian criminal tattoo, episode 3. The first episode can be seen here and the second episode can be seen here. The 3rd episode can be seen here

In this episode: details about the White Swan, the toughest prison in Russia

A tough convicted has the right to get a tattoo on the eyelids - usually a message like "Don't dare to wake me up!" - an avertisment for the other convicted to keep quiet when the tough guy is sleeping.

The mark of Cain: the russian criminal tattoos (III)

The mark of Cain: the russian criminal tattoo, episode 3. The first episode can be seen here and the second episode can be seen here.

Extras from this episode: The lowest category in the criminal world are the so-called Downcast. The men in the colony who fulfill, mostly by force, the female role. [...] These people (the Downcast) live separately, they eat separately,they sit apart in the mess hall. They don't have the right to look in the eyes of the other convicts. [...] Sometimes they have humiliating words (like slave, or bitch) tattooed on their faces, so they can be easily recognized when they arrive in a new prison.

The mark of Cain: the russian criminal tattoos (II)

The mark of Cain: the russian criminal tattoo, episode 2. The first episode can be seen here.

Did you know...?

- the cross is one of the most popular tattoo designs among the russian convicts. If an inmate has a tattoo with the representation of the crucifixion of Christ, it means that he (the inmate) is the leader of a criminal organization