Background: In 1990s criminal slang, Article 146 of the RSFSR Criminal Code ("Robbery") was nicknamed "a ruble forty-six" (1 ruble 46 kopecks). In the text quoted, "a fiver for a ruble forty-six" is likely a garbled reference to this article, paired with a "price" for the crime.
The definition of robbery under the RSFSR Criminal Code (in effect in 1994)
Under Article 146 of the 1960 RSFSR Criminal Code (as it stood in 1994), robbery was defined as:
- An assault carried out with the aim of seizing another person's property
- Committed with violence dangerous to life and health, or the threat of such violence
The base offense (Art. 146, Part 1)
Punishable by 3 to 10 years of imprisonment, with or without confiscation of property.
Aggravating factors (Art. 146, Part 2)
Increased the sentence to 6–15 years of imprisonment with confiscation, if the robbery was committed:
| a) | By a group with prior agreement |
| b) | Using a weapon or an object used as a weapon |
| c) | Causing grievous bodily harm |
| d) | By a person previously convicted of robbery or banditry |
| e) | Involving unlawful entry into a home, premises, or storage facility |
The most severe offense (Art. 146, Part 3)
Provided for 8–15 years of imprisonment with confiscation for:
- Robbery aimed at seizing property on a large scale
- Committed by an organized group
- Committed by a particularly dangerous repeat offender
Key elements of robbery
The objective element
Characterized by an assault (overt or covert), combined with:
- Physical violence dangerous to life or health
- The threat of such violence
The subjective element
- Direct intent
- A profit motive
- The goal of seizing another's property
Distinction from theft with violence (Art. 145)
The critical distinction — the degree of violence:
- Robbery (razboy) — violence dangerous to life/health
- Theft with violence (grabyozh) — violence not dangerous to life/health, or no violence at all
Legal nuances
- Robbery is considered completed from the moment of the assault, even if no property is actually taken
- Using a fake weapon (for instance, a toy gun) can still be classified as robbery if the victim perceived the threat as real
- The minimum age of criminal liability was 14 years
Note: In 1996, the RSFSR Criminal Code was replaced by the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, where robbery is governed by Article 162. The provisions above reflect the law as it stood during the period the novel is set (1994).