A rare look inside Russia’s prisons | DW Documentary

Key Concepts

• Sizo (СИЗО): Russian pre-trial detention center, often characterized by overcrowding and harsh conditions.
• Kartser (Карцер): Punitive isolation cell within a Russian prison or Sizo.
• Political Prisoner (Политзаключённый): Individuals imprisoned for their political beliefs or activities.
• ‘Gnobit’ (Гнобить): A Russian slang term meaning to harass, bully, or systematically oppress someone.
• Iron Chamber/Cellmates (Железокамерники/Соотрядники): Terms used to refer to fellow inmates, particularly those involved in the prison hierarchy or those who carry out instructions from authorities.

Life Inside Russian Pre-Trial Detention Centers & Political Persecution

Anna Koretnikova, a former employee of Moscow’s pre-trial detention centers (Sizo) and prisons for 14 years, details the brutal realities faced by inmates, particularly political prisoners. Her account focuses on the deliberately created unbearable living conditions and the systematic persecution employed against those deemed politically problematic.

Koretnikova describes her own experience of needing to live in a state of constant preparedness for attack, even while sleeping. She states, “В холодильнике жить. Я вот так сплю. Вот так одетый сплю. Не раздеваюсь, мне надо намазаться.” (To live in a refrigerator. I sleep like this. I sleep dressed like this. I don’t undress, I need to smear myself [presumably with something for protection]). This illustrates the pervasive fear and lack of safety within the facilities, requiring constant vigilance even during rest. She mentions experiencing flare-ups of a medical condition (“Вот это вот вот хозяйство у меня идёт обострение”), likely exacerbated by the stressful and unsanitary conditions.

Overcrowding and Systemic Abuse

The scale of overcrowding is emphasized, with Koretnikova stating that a cell can hold between two and forty individuals, and even more in women’s facilities (“В камере может находиться от двух до 40 человек, а в женском изоляторе, к сожалению, ещё больше”). This overcrowding contributes directly to the harsh conditions and increased risk of violence.

A key point raised is the deliberate strategy employed against political prisoners. Koretnikova explains that the system appears to have developed a standardized response to individuals identified as “political prisoners”: “А показалось, что система решила выработать некий общий ответ, типа: "Ага, политзаключённый, ну вот сейчас начнём тебя гнобить, да, сейчас мы на тебя возбудим второе дело". Сейчас мы тебя 24 раза посадим картер. Вот сейчас мы тебе ещё какую-нибудь гадость устроим.” (It seemed that the system decided to develop a kind of general response, like: "Aha, a political prisoner, well now we'll start harassing you, yes, now we'll open a second case against you. Now we'll put you in kartser 24 times. Now we'll do something nasty to you."). This demonstrates a calculated effort to break the spirit and inflict suffering through repeated punishment, fabricated charges, and prolonged isolation. The repeated use of kartser (punitive isolation) is highlighted as a primary tool of oppression.

Forced Exile and Continued Advocacy

Koretnikova’s own situation deteriorated to the point where she was warned by her superiors that “дела твои плохие” (your affairs are bad). She subsequently left Russia on a sick day and sought political asylum in France, where she was granted refuge. She now works with a project supporting political prisoners (“Сейчас я нахожусь во Франции и получала там политическое убежище. И продолжаем работать сейчас в проекте поддержки политических заключённых”).

Logical Connections & Synthesis

The narrative progresses logically from describing the general harsh conditions within Russian Sizo to focusing specifically on the targeted persecution of political prisoners. Koretnikova’s personal experience serves as a powerful illustration of the systemic abuse and the risks faced by those who challenge the authorities. Her subsequent exile and continued advocacy demonstrate the severity of the situation and the ongoing need for support for those imprisoned for their beliefs. The account highlights a deliberate and organized effort to suppress dissent through brutal and dehumanizing practices.