Traditions

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Russian Prison Riddles — The Dark Humor and Hidden Meaning of “Fenya” Culture

Russian prison “riddles” aren’t jokes — they’re tests of character. This article decodes the infamous “two chairs,” “ass or mother,” and “fork in the eye” dilemmas that shaped the unwritten rules of the criminal underworld.

The Prison Language (E–L)

The continuation of the Fenya glossary covers the letters E through L — showing how inmates used coded language to describe money, power, punishment, loyalty, and betrayal inside the Russian prison system. Each term reflects fragments of criminal history and the psychology of survival behind bars.

Fenya — The Prison Language (V–G–D)

The next section of our Russian prison slang glossary (Fenya) covers words from V to D, revealing how inmates communicate through coded terms and idioms.

The Prison Language, Part I: A–B

From “авторитет” to “блатной” — discover the secret prison language of Russia. The first part of our Fenya glossary explains the slang, traditions, and codes used behind bars.