There's a really complicated, and intricate caste system in Russian jails...
Basically, homosexuals are downcast, slaves to the tattooed criminal class (thieves in law) - they wash the toilets and so on, and can prostitute themselves... But if a thief touches one, or eats with cutlery they've used, they're immediately downcast to the same level... They are allowed to rape/buy sexual services from them though, but can't touch them with their hands... Even beatings are carried out with kicks/weapons.
Shit is fascinating, and super dark...
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/05/16/russia-prisons-wagner-group-ukraine-crime-culture/#:~:text=There are four basic groups,degradation governs every social interaction.
I'm interested in both tattoos, and Russian history... I bought these books, and they're awesome.
There's a few examples here:
https://www.theguardian.com/artandd...decoding-russian-criminal-tattoos-in-pictures