Russian criminal tattoo

May the Lord keep me from the hands of the law

2026-04-26T06:53:00.000-07:00

Three domes, and only one has a cross. This could mean one prison term and three years in prison.

I read here about the meaning of domes, what they signify, why domes, temples, churches. They say it's protection, spirituality, and so on. In fact, it's connected to the labor communes in churches after the Revolution, when religion was being fought, and to keep them from becoming empty, labor communes were created in churches. You can see this in the film "Road to Life."

This guy is definitely not first time in prison

2026-04-05T04:16:00.000-07:00

Large scars can be seen on the abdomen.

Smile again freedom!

2026-03-29T05:04:00.000-07:00

For those who are there

2026-01-18T06:34:00.000-08:00

Now we are in Telegram. Join our group RussianCriminalTattoo.

Tarantula tattoo

2026-01-18T06:32:00.000-08:00

Nice work.

Ring of a lower-caste prisoner

2026-01-18T06:31:00.000-08:00

Prisoner from lower-caste is called rooster.

Star in the spiderweb

2025-10-26T01:52:00.000-07:00

On the spiderweb, you can see barbed wire spikes, which could indicate the number of years of imprisonment.

Tattoos of cats on the legs

2025-08-28T12:38:00.000-07:00

The cat on the left represents a pickpocket, while the one on the right seems to be a gambling cat, meaning the owner of the tattoos likely enjoys gambling.

Bars with cards

2025-07-12T06:38:00.000-07:00

The coils on the barbed wire can represent the years of a prison term.

Comrade Stalin's tattoo

2025-06-24T06:48:00.000-07:00

We also have telegram channel RussianCriminalTattoo.

Cool prison tattoo from a tattoo parlor

2025-04-07T06:28:00.000-07:00

So many interesting things inked:

1. Minarets of mosques with domes and crosses.
2. Around Saint Nicholas's head, the word "MIR" is tattooed.
3. The Virgin Mary has her hands in shackles, and the baby has his feet chained.
4. Both Saint Nicholas and the Virgin Mary have tattoos on their hands.
5. The book that Saint Nicholas is holding says: "Kill all the cops without mercy. Crush the bankers "something illegible" and government officials."

Cool tattoo

2025-03-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't know pirate mean robbery. Here you can see more photos of tattoos with pirates.

LHVS and Gott Mit Uns

2025-03-25T12:55:00.000-07:00

It's hard to see, but it looks like there are domes above the rings.

Morning

2025-03-21T13:49:00.000-07:00

Usually they tattoo "Север" (North), but here it's "Утро" (Morning).

If you follow the truth - you will be erased till the ass

2023-10-06T11:05:00.001-07:00

Another tattoo If you follow the truth - you will be erased till the ass. Probably the tattoo was made in a tattoo parlor, like this one.

Save and Preserve tattoo

2023-09-08T05:19:00.001-07:00

Russian criminal tattoo on statues by Fabio Viale

2023-08-15T09:03:00.001-07:00

Italian artist Fabio Viale held an exhibition of his works. Fabio's work consisted of Greek statues with Russian prison tattoos painted on them. Here is more work from him.

Drawing prison tattoos on fingers

2023-06-30T01:16:00.000-07:00

Probably some schoolboy or student.

MISFIT surfboard

2023-06-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

Someone pasted a drawing of the MIR tattoo on a surfboard from Baldaev's book about Russian criminal tattoo. A strange idea to decorate surfing.

Epaulette with a skull

2023-06-20T01:16:00.003-07:00

I think this tattoo was done in a tattoo parlor. The skull looks like a tattoo from the cover of Baldaev's book Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia Volume 1.

Russian criminal tattoo fashion

2023-06-16T04:03:00.001-07:00

I think the inscription under the church is in Georgian.

Tattoo of a burglar thief

2023-06-13T09:39:00.006-07:00

A cat in a top hat and with a monocle in one paw holds a crowbar, in the other a master key - is a burglar thief. Here is another tattoo of a cat with a mount and master keys, and here is a tattoo of a cat, also in a top hat and with a monocle, but without tools. Maybe the monocle has some meaning.

Tattoo of pickpocket

2023-06-08T09:45:00.006-07:00

CAT is a pickpocket, and this cat has a feather in his hat, which may indicate that he is a pisaka, that is, he uses a feather for work - a sharp object with which he cuts bags and pockets. Such pickpockets also have a tattoo of a monk writing a book with a feather. What the gun and knife mean is unknown. Perhaps the owner also hunted for robbery, which somehow does not fit with the work of a pickpocket.

Abbreviation BARS on fingers

2023-06-05T08:06:00.000-07:00

The abbreviation BARS, stands for - BARS - Bey Aktiv Rezh Suk - Beat Active Cut Bitchs. What the ring on the index finger means is unknown. The meanings of other signet-rings can be found on our blog.

Saint Basil's Cathedral tattoo

2023-06-05T07:58:00.005-07:00

Although the photograph is small, the Saint Basil's Cathedral in Red Square is recognizable, which is also called:

1. The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed.

2. Saint Basil's Cathedral.

3. The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat.

4. Pokrovsky Cathedral.