“Do not renounce the prison and the sum” - one of the purely Russian sayings, which is almost impossible to literally translate into any other language. Indeed, almost every modern Russian resident has a relative or acquaintance who has managed to visit places not so remote. It is worth noting that in many settlements and prisons the conditions of detention of prisoners are quite tolerable, but the colony of a special regime is a completely different matter.
Is deprivation of liberty a punishment?
If you believe the quotes of recognized philosophers and sages, each person is born free. This right is enshrined today by the constitutions of all civilized states. However, for non-compliance with applicable state laws, the offender may receive a sentence of imprisonment for a certain period of time or for life. This practice was introduced back in the Middle Ages. In our country, already in the 19th century, references to Siberia and the Caucasus, as well as hard labor, were used as a criminal punishment. The death penalty, carried out by execution, was the death penalty.
Since 1996, the enforcement of such sentences has not been applied. An alternative and logical substitute for the death penalty today is life imprisonment. There is still debate in society and legal circles about whether deprivation of liberty can be considered equal to deprivation of life. However, many specialists and ordinary citizens of our country believe that in many ways the life sentence in the Russian colony of the special regime is worse than death.
Classification of colonies and prisons of the Russian Federation
The department of the GUFSIN of Russia (the Main Directorate of the Federal Service for the Execution of Punishment of Russia) has many specialized institutions for holding prisoners sentenced to a specific term of imprisonment. The colony settlements are considered the most comfortable accommodation option. You can get into such an institution for crimes of medium and low gravity and in the presence of extenuating circumstances. Convicts in colony settlements must abide by the regime, work, have the opportunity to study and engage in self-education. At the same time, as a rule, there is no strict control by the administration, and dormitory-barracks are allocated for living.
All prisoners can contact each other. Colonies are general and strict regimes, each of which has facilitated, ordinary or strict conditions. They differ among themselves in the number of rights and privileges granted to convicts, as well as in some details of the routine and employment of convicts. The most stringent rules and conditions of prisoners can boast of a special regime colony, in which criminals who have committed serious and especially serious crimes are serving their sentences.
Russian special regime correctional facilities
Today GUFSIN of Russia distributes sentenced to life imprisonment to only 5 correctional institutions. If you believe the statistics, in 2012 there were 1788 such prisoners throughout the country. All of them today are in special regime colonies, each of which is distinguished by special conditions of detention and multi-level protection against shoots. Such correctional institutions have not only official names and serial numbers, but also informal romantic names.
Today, life sentenced prisoners are held in the following colonies: Vologda Pyatak (FBU IK-5), Polar Owl (FBU IK-18), White Swan (FBU IK-2), Black Eagle (FBU IK -56) and Black Dolphin (FBU IK-6). Consider the life of prisoners and the conditions of their detention in one of these institutions in more detail.
City of Solikamsk: FBU IK-2
The most famous correctional institution in the Perm region has its history since 1938. It is best known as the White Swan. The prison was originally created to hold political prisoners. The institution was re-qualified in 1955, it was then that the zone received criminal status. The political prisoners during this reform were simply transferred to another prison. The colony gained its fame in 1980. It was at that time that they created a single chamber-type room (EPCT), intended for the re-education of "thieves in law" - the highest authorities of the criminal world.
It was at that time that the new method of combating the prison hierarchy was first invented. Thieves-in-law were specially isolated from other castes and deprived the Sixes of society. As a result, the authorities had to constantly be only with their own kind and find out which of them is more important. According to the legends, at that time about 130 representatives of the criminal “power” lost their “crowns” in the “White Swan”. At the same time, rumors circulated around the country that the city of Solikamsk (Perm Territory) was not the best place to spend the next term.
Why a swan? Legends and facts
All special regime correctional facilities operating today have original informal names. FBU IK-2 is no exception. The colony is best known as the White Swan. Today you can see images of these birds everywhere. A sculpture of swans stands in the courtyard. The silhouette of a proud bird can also be seen on the roof of the office building. Garbage cans and forged decorative elements in the form of this symbol are also located throughout the territory.
But a logical question arises: what appeared before - a similar design or the original name? There are several versions, and according to one of them, everything is very simple: the colony’s buildings are painted white, and if you look at them from above, they resemble the silhouette of a swan spread its wings. According to other versions, the prisoners themselves gave this name to the colony, realizing that they would sing their last, swan song in the walls of the institution.
Living and regime for convicts today
What is curious, those sentenced to life imprisonment in the White Swan today are occupied by the slightly re-equipped those same ECPTs. There are about 300 such prisoners in the institution. In fact, these are living corpses - the most dangerous criminals, including the organizers of gangs, killers, maniacs, rapists, repeat offenders. None of them will ever fall under the amnesty, they will all end their days in these white walls. The colonies of the special regime are not considered the most pleasant place, but the regime in the White Swan is one of the most stringent.
All "lifelong" are placed in cells designed for one, two or three people. This category of convicts always wears an established form - a striped robe. They can move around the institution only in handcuffs with a strongly bent back and raised arms, palms of which are directed outwards.
Prison Life
Many special regime colonies allow prisoners to work and even get education in institutions located on the territory of the settlement where the correctional facility is located. Everything is different in the White Swan: self-education is the only meaningful activity for life prisoners here, and then you can do it by the individual permission of the administration. Such convicts spend most of their lives in cells.The prisoners are taken out for walks, to the bathhouse and to any other events in such a way as to exclude meetings and any contacts with neighbors from other cells. The correctional institution respects all international standards for the maintenance of convicts: there is a library, “life-sentenced persons” have the right to correspond with their relatives and receive several short visits once a year.
Famous prisoners
Today in this correctional facility there are many criminals whose names have not come off the front pages of federal newspapers for a long time. It is here that their terms are serving: Roman Burtsev, Alexander Murylyov, Eduard Tumanov, Igor Izmestiev, Mikhail Ustinovich and many other recidivists who continue to be considered especially dangerous even in custody. The city of Solikamsk (Perm Territory) is also the place where such famous prisoners as Vasily Babushkin (Vasya Brilliant), Sergey Ryakhovsky, Salman Raduev, Apakia Boris Bagratovich ended their days.
Thieves-in-law are kept here today, however, it is worth noting that there are very few of them left - only about 10 people.
Interesting facts about the colony
In the entire history of the existence of the "White Swan" there was absolutely not a single successful escape. This fact is amazing - not all colonies of the special regime in Russia can boast of such flawless statistics. Today, safety is ensured through the use of the most modern technology, as well as years of high fences, watch towers and specially trained dogs. Correctional colonies of Russia at this level should be guarded accordingly. Rumor has it that even local staff do not know all the intricacies of the institution’s security system, and each unit is only responsible for its part of the work.
