"Baklanka"

In Soviet-era criminal slang, the term "baklanka" referred to Article 206 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR — "Hooliganism." It was one of the most commonly applied criminal charges, covering a wide range of antisocial behavior.

Origin of the term

In criminal circles, the word "baklan" (literally, "cormorant") carried several meanings:

• An inexperienced thief — a beginner criminal lacking professional skills
• A hooligan — someone engaged in petty rowdiness and disturbing public order
• A small-time speculator — a trader engaged in minor commercial dealings
• A mark — a man lured into a den with the aim of robbing him

Accordingly, "baklanka" was the name given to the charge most often brought against exactly these "baklans" — petty disturbers of the peace.

Article 206 of the RSFSR Criminal Code: substance and application

Article 206, "Hooliganism," was introduced into the RSFSR Criminal Code in 1922 and amended repeatedly thereafter. By the 1990s, it prescribed punishment for deliberate acts that grossly violated public order and expressed open disrespect for society.

Hooliganism covered:

• Fights and assaults in public places
• Insults and obscene language
• Damage to public property
• Disturbing the peace of citizens
• Rowdy behavior on transport, in shops, on the street

Historical context

The phenomenon of hooliganism in Russia has deep historical roots. The term "hooligans" first appeared in the Russian press in 1905, denoting street idlers and troublemakers. In the early 20th century, hooligan gangs terrorized the streets of St. Petersburg and other major cities.

Hooliganism became especially widespread in the 1920s, during the period of the New Economic Policy (NEP). It was then that the legendary "gopniks" appeared — residents of the GOP (Municipal Proletarian Hostel) in Leningrad. At that time, hooligans banded together into organized gangs with their own hierarchy and "specializations."

"Involved in this were young, healthy fellows, they were called 'baklans,' with a distinctive look and way of dressing: polished chrome-leather boots gathered in accordion folds on their feet, trousers tucked into them with a blousy fit, a 'captain's' cap worn at an angle, a white or colored shirt, a belt with a tassel, and a jacket."

Meaning in the context of the novel

In the context of Zhorik's line, "This isn't a baklanka!", the point is that the crime committed is not petty hooliganism, the kind that gets you charged under Article 206. The character is stressing that stealing a large shipment of goods is a crime of an entirely different order, requiring organization and planning beyond the reach of the ordinary local "gopota" (petty street thugs).

The term "baklanka" remained part of criminal slang in the 1990s, even though Article 206 of the RSFSR Criminal Code was soon replaced by the corresponding articles of the new 1996 Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The character's use of the term underscores his familiarity with the criminal world and his ability to "read" crimes by their nature and scale.