: Originally, the blatnoy culture served as a form of resistance against prison authorities. A core tenet of the code was a complete refusal to cooperate with the state, which included refusing to work or take orders from camp administrations.
: The modern blatnoy identity solidified during the Soviet era, particularly within the Gulag system .
: During and after WWII, a violent internal conflict (the "Suki" or "Bitch Wars") erupted between traditional blatnoy and those who had cooperated with the state (often by serving in the Red Army) in exchange for leniency. The Prison Caste System On Blatnoy
: Prisoners who openly collaborate with administration, often serving as workers or informants.
The blatnoy sit at the apex of a rigid, four-tiered social hierarchy common in many Eastern European prisons: : Originally, the blatnoy culture served as a
: This code mandates absolute loyalty to the criminal world, the support of "brothers" in prison, and the maintenance of a secret jargon ( Fenya ).
: The majority of the population; non-professional criminals who follow the rules to survive but do not hold authority. : During and after WWII, a violent internal
: A genre of "criminal songs" (often called Blatnyak ) that romanticizes the life of the convict, focusing on themes of betrayal, fate, and the cruelty of the state.