Comments on: The Illustrated Mobster: Tattoos of the Russian Mafia

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:14:02 +0000

The cross on the center of the chest means that they’re a “Prince of Thieves”, or a high-ranking member of the voy, which are low-ranking members of the Russian mafia.

By: Kristina

Kristina — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:10:00 +0000

i have researched and found that the skulls they get on their chest shows the people they have killed
the number of towers on the churches they have on their chest shows the number of times they have been in jail/prison
barbed wire across the head means that you are sentenced to life in jail with no chance or parole
and if you have a star on your knee it means you bow down to no one

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:51:48 +0000

Could you tell me the name of this photographer please

By: Anon

Anon — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:36:28 +0000

I’m a woman in the U.S. who used to date a man from the former Soviet Union, and what is interesting is that he was surprised to find a tattoo on my hip. He pointed out that where he grew up, only criminals had them, and begged me to never get any more.

I love this post and the comments following, thanks to everybody who’s contributed! Fascinating.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:47:44 +0000

I think the most haunting aspect of the images are the men’s expressions. They appear much more vulnerable and frightened than one would expect of hardened criminals.

By: marissa

marissa — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 03:24:00 +0000

the one with the web means he has killed before

By: Russian criminal tattoo blog

Russian criminal tattoo blog — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:56:00 +0000

this photos of D.Weber,he have more pics of tattoos.
Eastern Promises i saw and i not liked but possibly this movie best of all another movies about russian mafia.

By: Armianski kash

Armianski kash — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:59:51 +0000

Tim had a point there
i have 6 cats on me
they Call me Kash
i dont think this website should excist
especially EPEBAH
the eagle tattoo
vor v zakone
the cat lenin the claws the cross
the church.

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:43:24 +0000

this is regarding the comment posted by Aussie Daniel on 3-12-2008. the “bearded man” is lenin it this tattoo protected the prisoner from being shot or stabbed in that area of the body (in this case its over the heart of the prisoner). also the cat means that the man was/ is a thief.

By: Aussie Daniel

Aussie Daniel — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:02:46 +0000

That final picture, with the man with the cat on the left and the face with the man with the beard means the man gets sexually molestered in prison. A bearded mans face represents a ‘front bum’ and is used to indicate he is sexually abused in prison.
Nice post.