What caused the formation of Thieves by Law (Vory V Zakone) in Russia and how did/do they impact the society?

by SSA69

I recently watched this documentary and it intriqued me. I believe parts of this question are near breaking the 20 year rule. Apologies for that.

MeetKi

The appearance of the thieves-in-law in the USSR belongs to the beginning of the 1930s. The main unifying force of the criminal world has become a trend, not political opposition, and insubordination the authorities, and its elite were "thieves in law", who called themselves the guardians of the traditions of pre-revolutionary Russian criminal.