Vory v Zakone: The Criminal Code That Rules Russia's Underworld
The Vory refers to an elite section of the Russian criminal underworld. Those with the title operate under a strict code, but how do they function?
Image: Mikhail, a former member of organised crime in Russia | Mafia: Behind the Bloodshed
Almost every country in the world has its own organised crime. Whether it’s the Italian mafia, the Japanese yakuza or the cartels of Latin America, the fearsome reputation of these groups precedes them.
Others are far less well known. The Vory v Zakone, or ‘thieves in law’, emerged in Stalin’s labour camps and lived by an unwritten code, often cited as 18 rules, where breaking the rules could mean death.
Sky HISTORY looks at how that code took shape in the Gulag, and how the thieves who followed it built one of Russia’s most feared criminal networks in the world.
What is Vory v Zakone?
In Russian, Vory v Zakone translates to ‘thieves-in-law’ or ‘thieves with code’. The term refers to a status of sorts within the hierarchy of the Russian criminal underworld. Those who held it were the most senior figures in that world, expected to uphold its unwritten rules and settle disputes between other criminals.
They also used to have a particularly fearsome reputation in Russia. In addition, the Vory are known for having elaborate tattoos, which are connected to each individual’s reputation and rank.
The origins of the Vory v Zakone
This criminal fraternity first became known in the Russian prison system rather than on the streets, unlike many established crime syndicates. Historians disagree on exactly when the vory emerged. Some trace the term to the upheaval after the 1917 Russian Revolution, while others point to the Gulag camps of the late 1920s and 1930s under Stalin. The Vory themselves claimed to be guardians of older, pre-revolutionary criminal traditions.
Within the prison systems, inmates refused cooperation with authorities. Instead, they established their own authoritarian structures that focused on unwavering loyalty, building status, and earning a reputation. This grew to the point where an entire criminal fraternity was formed. It didn’t take long for the group to spread outside of the prison systems and into the streets of Russia. The Vory continued to do so well into post-Soviet times, continuing into our modern-day world.
The code of the Vory v Zakone
A major element of the Vory’s principles revolved around a strict code of conduct. The thieves' code, also known as the ‘Vorovskoy Zakon’ or ‘progony’, is more than just a test of loyalty. They bind the Vory with their lives, as breaking the code was punishable by death.
There are 18 rules within the code, which include the following:
- Relatives of any kind must be forsaken.
- Be willing to teach the criminal trade to young members.
- Help other thieves both materially and morally.
- If possible, ensure that you have informants amongst the thieves.
- Do not serve within the military.
- Do not break promises made to fellow thieves.
The rest of the code has similar rules, all of which revolve around camaraderie and criminal integrity.
The impact of the Vory v Zakone
The Vory were able to gain a foothold in Russia (and other Eastern and Central European countries) when the transition from communism to capitalism began in the late 1980s. This was partly due to weak property rights caused by large-scale privatisation. The Vory also managed to infiltrate the legal economy within Russia at the end of 1991 when the Soviet Union dissolved. They were able to do so as this collapse led to a vulnerable and unstable market economy.
The Vory, as well as other criminal organisations, offered protection to legal businesses. They did this while also coordinating the crimes of others in their line of work who were under their protection. This led to a huge rise in crime in post Soviet Russia, especially when it came to violence against the economic elite. Other crimes that became prevalent included racketeering, trafficking, and extortion, to name just a few.
The influence of the Vory did not end in Russia. Over the years, they managed to establish connections across international borders. They developed effective ways to coordinate communications between different crime leaders and criminal organisations in other countries.
The Vory v Zakone are far from what they once were, but they have not disappeared. They still have a presence in Russia, particularly in its prisons, and they have had to adapt to a state that has moved against them. In 2019, Russia proposed new penalties aimed at the status itself, rather than only the crimes its holders commit.
It is a striking reversal for a fraternity founded on a simple principle: never cooperate with the state.
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