Younger members are often coerced into paying "contributions" ( obshchak ) to older criminals, essentially becoming victims of extortion.
While the "Vorovskoy" (thief) world is often romanticized in songs as a brotherhood, the reality is far different:
Sociologists view the rise of these movements as a symptom of social inequality and a lack of constructive outlets for youth. Today, the focus has shifted toward providing better social support and digital literacy to help young people distinguish between fictional "street codes" and the harsh reality of criminal involvement.
Before the 2020 ban, digital platforms allowed these ideologies to spread rapidly beyond prison walls into schools and local neighborhoods. The Reality vs. The Myth