Thief in law

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Thief in law (Russian: Вор в законе) is a skilled worker, particularly a thief, within the Russian criminal world who satisfies certain requirements of the Russian criminal traditions.

[edit] History

Although Russia has long had criminals and bandits operating in the vast peripheral areas of the nation, during the disorder of the Revolution armed gangs proliferated until they were a very significant factor in society. This became known as the "vorovskoy mir" or "thieves world".

As the Soviet Union was brought back to order, the KGB nearly destroyed the criminal underworld in the Soviet Union. However, it was in the prison camps of Stalin that a new system arose, the vory v zakone.

The "thieves in law" formed as a society for mutual support within the prison camps, and adopted a system of collective responsibility, and swearing a code of "complete submission to the laws of criminal life, including obligations to support the criminal ideal, and rejection of labor and political activities." As an example, should a Vor (Вор) ever be unfortunate enough to be incarcerated in a prison camp, he would refuse to perform any labor, as the code would mandate that "Your own prison, thou shall not make." The groups also organized their own courts around a code of thieves honor and tradition. Acceptance into the group was often marked by extensive tattooing (see Criminal tattoo). The tattooing would often be indicative of rank within the society and/or noteworthy criminal accomplishments.

After the breakup of the Soviet Union the vory assumed a leading role within the Russian criminal hierarchy (see Russian Mafia). They are given the title by other vory and in order to be accepted they must demonstrate considerable leadership skills, personal ability, intellect and charisma. Once accepted they must live according to the code. The penalty for violation of this code is often mutilation or death.

One famous Vor V Zakone is Vladimir Podatev who was appointed a member of the commission for human rights under the President Yeltsin, in spite of three previous felony convictions for murder, assault, and rape.

[edit] References

Gurov, A. I. (1990). Professional Crime Past and Present. Moscow: Iuridicheskaia Literatura.
Fikenauer, James O; Waring, Elin J. (1998). Russian Mafia In America: Immigration Culture and Crime. Boston: Northeastern University Press.