On Blatnoy <iPhone>

: Prisoners who openly collaborate with administration, often serving as workers or informants.

: The modern blatnoy identity solidified during the Soviet era, particularly within the Gulag system . On Blatnoy

: The highest echelon; professional criminals who live by the code and do not work. On Blatnoy

: The majority of the population; non-professional criminals who follow the rules to survive but do not hold authority. On Blatnoy

In recent years, researchers and activists have noted that prison administrations sometimes exploit these "archaic" caste systems to maintain control, using blatnoy leaders to suppress political dissidents and other specific groups of prisoners. If you'd like to dive deeper,