Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images / Getty Images‘Batogs’ were sticks or thick rods, which were used to beat those who were guilty of something. In the Cathedral Code of 1649 - the code of laws of the Russian state - there was a whole list of offenses, for which the punishment prescribed was beating with ‘batogs’. From illustrations to the manuscript Relatius of Moscovia of Duke Francis de Liria and Heric, 1731The guilty were not only hurt, but also shamed. Executioners would sit on their feet and head and beat them on the back until the order to stop the punishment was sounded or until the ‘batog’ broke. and, in the end, bow and kiss the executioners’ legs.