RUSSIA'S ALCATRAZ - The toughest prison on Fire Island | Full Documentary

terrorists assassins mafia bosses serial killers the russian courts have given them the maximum penalty life imprisonment here that really means until the end of their lives they are all imprisoned on fire island the island of the damned for centuries during the time of the tsars the prison was a monastery now it houses 200 dangerous criminals no one has ever managed to escape our walls are between 80 and 150 centimeters thick you can't dig a hole through them overnight without being noticed the island is surrounded by water and swamp land in the summer temperatures reach 35 degrees celsius in winter they can fall to minus 30. there are inmates in this northern russian maximum security prison who would prefer the death penalty to continuing their incarceration here [Music] a paid job in the prison sewing shop is a privilege those who conform are allowed to work here those who don't can only escape the boredom of their cells during yard time pacing round and round in tiny inhuman cages for the rest of their lives [Music] fire island is reserved for those men who committed their crimes with particularly lower motives and extreme cruelty 305 pm cell number eight wing four captain dimitchu open up prisoner hands behind your back convicted under section 2 of articles 105 103 sentence was passed on march 24 2016. in cell 8 there are 8 inmates three are at work good morning we'll now search your cell for forbidden items no forbidden items here turn your back to me we're putting the handcuffs on sharp and pointed items are forbidden they could be used as weapons or tools for escaping come out here face the wall [Music] articles 105 and 103 of the russian criminal code deal with murder sex offender and killer levanov cruelly and brutally murdered his girlfriend guards search levinoff's cell they're looking for anything that could be used as a weapon or a means of escape all larger objects are fixed into place to prevent them from being used in a riot situation says the deputy prisoner governor [Music] like these always accommodate three or four inmates [Music] the only place with any privacy is the toilet that's bolted to the floor too the lights plumbing system it all works we can also see everything the men do in their cells through the security cameras and we can maintain contact with the prisoners through an intercom system without any risk to ourselves move it go in here then face me take the handcuffs off in this cell psychologists and profilers normally work with the prisoners they compile offender profiles for crime prevention purposes i've committed rape and murder in a very cruel way what do you mean by very cruel i abused my girlfriend don't know what to say i injured her internal organs as well what does that mean i tore her internal organs out with my bare hands levanov committed his first sex offense at the age of seventeen [Music] the one of cultures was convicted of abusing a nine-year-old girl he tried to rape her she was the daughter of his brother's partner pictures from russian television levanov had to serve a four-year term in prison for child abuse back outside he murdered aliena sorkina in a garage yard in the central russian city of soronsk levanov had met the 21 year old on the internet then as he told the police he lured the woman here to carry out sexual experiments with her then suddenly he completely lost control levanov shows the officers where and how he committed the murder at first i hit her in the face a few times why asks one of the officers so she wouldn't put up any resistance this police video is admissible as evidence in court we had a psychiatric assessment done in a clinic and the doctors concluded he was of completely sound mind when he committed the crime for this murder for particularly lower motives levanov was sentenced to 23 years in a prison camp the state prosecutors appealed demanding life imprisonment instead and they were successful in russia life imprisonment literally means detention until the day you die theoretically after 25 years there's a chance to be released for good behavior or mitigating circumstances and that's what livenoff is hoping for he claims that at the time of the offense he was not responsible for his actions because he was under the influence of drugs i smoked spice during my first prison term [Music] and after i was released i used it more often it's so easy to get me the dealers just leave it in a pre-arranged place one dose costs 1 500 or 2 000 rubles this synthetic stuff changes you makes you aggressive and time rubles are about 28 euros reduced responsibility remorse good behavior that's the strategy levinoff hopes may enable him to leave fire island after 25 years up to now no one who has been sentenced to life imprisonment in russia has ever been released when the time comes much will depend on the assessments of psychologists the fire island is russia's oldest maximum security prison surrounded by sparsely populated marshlands the once orthodox monastery looms above lake novozro similar to alcatraz in san francisco bay the penitentiary ik5 lies around 600 kilometers north of moscow surrounded by the 12 square kilometer lake the neighboring island of slaadki which means sweet is mainly home to prison guards many of them still live in run-down wooden huts from soviet days in some places on lake navajoro time seems to have stood still the monastery was founded on the island by saint cyril in the 16th century and because torches burned there at night the people in the surrounding villages came up with the name island of fire the october revolution in 1917 swept the largely atheist bolsheviks to power they drove out the monks and converted the monastery into a gulak for enemies of the state in 1994 fire island became a maximum security prison for dangerous criminals a place of no return igor dashkovsky is the deputy prison governor he's been working on fire island for 11 years and knows it like the back of his hand [Music] so security rounds several times a day prison guards check the walls and fences exclusion zone no admission we are here at the entrance to the prison detained behind these walls there are 189 men each of them has been sentenced to life terrorists serial killers sex offenders gang bosses and murderers they've committed a variety of crimes come with me right behind the entrance is the prison's administration the administration and the prisoner's wing are right next to each other because we are on a small island when the building was a monastery there used to be water here boats went through the north gate directly to the church of the resurrection of christ now we're going into the living quarters by living quarters dashkovsky means the maximum security cells in the former church of the resurrection checkpoint 2 prisoner's wing [Music] the living area is relatively compact with four buildings iv was renovated two years ago foundations and walls are historic this is the former monastery church of the resurrection of christ here on the right is wing 1. it's currently being renovated all the buildings meanwhile have running water and are connected to the sewage system there are new security cameras everywhere and we recently installed a ventilation system come with me the ventilation system means that during the warmer seasons at least some of the windows can be kept closed because once the snow is gone clouds of mosquitoes from the neighboring marshes plague the entire island in the summer temperatures can reach 35 degrees celsius in winter they can fall to minus 30. comrade lieutenant colonel nothing to report in this wing there are 88 prisoners 21 present the risk of escape we're in wink four which as i said underwent a complete refurbishment two years ago during the building work we discovered historic frescoes and had them restored [Music] this one is and there's also a cyril fresco that's been preserved why was a monastery like this converted into a it was an obvious choice because of its location on an island water is the perfect escape barrier up to now there hasn't been one serious attempt to escape that's because beyond the lake there are only swamps and forests so no one knows which direction to take our monastery walls are between 80 and 150 centimeters thick there's no way anyone can dig a hole through them overnight without being noticed it's not realistic the inmates of each cell all go to the showers together that's three or four men at a time when they finished the next one goes in one cell after the other it's for security reasons the hot water comes from the boilers there are 45 lifers in this building each of them takes a shower twice a week are there security cameras here as well no they have their privacy here the guard locks this door and checks everything through this window video surveillance in the bathroom is against the law he's in charge on the left and right are the treatment rooms this is the isolation room if an inmate catches something infectious he's put in this cell so he won't pass it on to anyone else we can treat dental problems as well the doctor comes once a month or more often if it's needed and if any inmates need an injection or an intravenous drip that all happens in this room the island of fire an almost self-sufficient maximum security prison in the middle of nowhere only food supplies need to be delivered [Music] there's even a sewing shop it stands on the site of old russian orthodox graves we found this gravestone lieutenant colonel dmitry timothy died 10th december 1858 sells for dangerous criminals in the church of the resurrection of christ frescoes in the prison computer room the founder of the monastery cyril of navajoro many former atheist inmates have meanwhile found solace in the russian orthodox faith the murderer mikhail bukharov has documented his path to religion in tattoos he stabbed an acquaintance 48 times more or less dismembering him he was afraid the acquaintance would press charges against him after committing a robbery can you see who's holding this being in his hand the devil yes the devil or evil what's this tattoo got to do with god nothing i did it before i'd found god and when did you find your faith three years after the tattoo on my back is that prisoner yes above me is god who forgives our sins and you really are religious today yes so you found your way to god in prison yes after the sentence of death by firing squad when was that 1994 why wasn't the sentence carried out because there was a moratorium on death penalties when i think it was 1994. so the death penalty converted [Music] yes the moratorium on the death penalty has been in force in russia since 1996. bukharov meanwhile is in favor of it ending at the moment i would prefer to be shot well done what am i supposed to do here what have i got to live for [Music] there's always the chance of parole after 25 years what chance it's all just theory some have been here for 30 years nobody gets out alive bucharoth believes the only way he'll leave fire island is in a coffin because he committed a particularly brutal murder for him the 48 stab wounds are a death penalty in installments seven o'clock in the morning the early shift takes over more patrols walls and fences are checked again in the prison sewing shop too the working day begins the prisoners here are volunteers the job is a privilege anyone hoping to get out after 25 years does his best to get his hands on one of the few sewing machines to earn money for a life and freedom sex offender and killer levenoff firmly believes he will leave the island alive one day he stoically endures all the strict security measures [Music] the men make life jackets souvenirs and working clothes for a private company in moscow about 100 euros a month is the top salary on the prison island [Music] jackets for children too working clothes for medical staff building workers security staff and welders with a lining for winter [Music] what do [Music] or [Music] some inmates like levanov also make so-called compensation payments to the relatives of their victims [Music] i have to pay compensation because i was sued for damages who sued you the victim's mother how much did you have to pay 2 to three thousand depending on what i earn rubles yes every month yes for how long 10 to 15 years how much is that all together 2 million rubles 2 million rubles is the equivalent of about 28 600 euros after work they go out to the exercise yard two hours are allowed each day but only a few of them take full advantage of this opportunity [Music] in winter there's usually an icy wind blowing off lake navajoro and in summer the inmates are plagued by countless mosquitoes their yard time takes place in these small rusty cages that's the extent of their freedom of movement in human conditions one prisoner to each cage hey move it up against the wall so now go in most guards know roughly what crimes the prisoners have committed but don't really bother with the details a matter of self-protection so they don't become emotionally brutalized themselves analyzing crimes is a psychologist's job it's for them to say whether a lifer is theoretically mature enough to be allowed out on parole after 25 years i keep out of it most of the time otherwise all this filth would drive me crazy lots of the murders are simply just barbaric daylight a few steps without handcuffs and no cellmates to disturb him sex offender and killer levanov tries to keep himself alive mentally through the power of positive thinking life imprisonment has nothing to do with the end of your life every human being lives learns works and despite all the adversities tries to start a new chapter in their lives wouldn't the death penalty spare you a lot not everyone would want to die not even in a situation like this i love my life and don't want to lose it with the brutality of their crimes murderers like levanov have clearly crossed a line that's the main criticism of the deputy prison governor i'm in favor of him being executed for the brutal murder of his girlfriend as a prison officer i'm against the death penalty because as a lifer he's confronted with his crime every day every minute of his life and in line with current practice that will continue until the day he dies out now any prohibited items on you no many prison officers consider life imprisonment to be harder punishment than death these men don't believe that levanov will ever be released they think his remorse and admission of guilt are just an act with every action and reaction geared precisely to securing his release in 25 years thus escaping his responsibility the sex offender and killer's relatives obviously take a similar view none of them want anything to do with levanov some contact would certainly be possible even personal meetings between offender and family are possible on fire island the only condition is that the prison authorities must have no security concerns only those showing good behavior can expect permission to receive visitors there are even special small apartments for these visits in the former monastery we have two apartments where inmates and their families can meet in the first ten years of imprisonment it's once a year for three days after that for good behavior two such visits can be arranged per year this is the children's room a maximum of two adults and one child are allowed to visit they have to present documents showing that they're close relatives here's the kitchen and back here are the toilet and shower how can you guarantee that a prisoner on a life sentence won't do any harm to his wife or his parents we can't guarantee anything that's why every inmate is screened thoroughly before any kind of meeting takes place if we think there won't be any problems we give the green light has anything ever happened no the prisoners have enough brains not to do anything after all it's their wives parents and children visiting them during the approval process we check through all their letters we make sure there are no insults going back and forth we check everything besides fire island there are five other maximum security prisons in russia in these institutions almost 2 000 men are serving life sentences maximum security prisons are very different from the widespread prison camps this one lies about 1 000 kilometers southeast of fire island in the town of yavas in the republic of mordovia [Music] we are now entering a camp where only former state officials are detained prison commander takes us through the prison camp open the doors the criminals in prison camps are slightly less dangerous than those in maximum security prisons freedom of movement is significantly greater and the men live in so-called barracks rather than cells [Music] some have also committed serious crimes however former police officer victor saliev is here for double murder he was a member of a mafia clan and was sentenced to 17 years [Music] imprisonment [Music] they were members of a rival gang i shot them all in all there are about 650 000 men incarcerated in russia's prison camps morning roll call this is done several times a day by the camp authorities to make sure all prisoners are still present in contrast to maximum security prisons like fire island attempts to escape are not uncommon here some dig tunnels others try to ram their way out using camp vehicles there are countless stories the daily routine is strictly regulated breakfast work lunch back to work evening meal free time bedtime the days in the camps are very similar to those in the maximum security prisons the food hut prisoners cook and bake for prisoners in most russian prison camps there's a kind of caste system the topmost cast is made up of the crime bosses in the second cast are the common criminals like saliev both groups avoid the lowest caste prison informers and homosexuals [Music] is there a caste system here too let me just finish eating before i answer everyone's equal you can all sit where you want to sure wherever you want to whether this answer is true is difficult to say western camera crews don't have enough time in the prisons to find out what the inmates really think this is what we call the industrial area here there's a sewing shop and a pasta factory we also grow our own vegetables the textiles go to clients private companies production in the yavas prison camp here too there are parallels to the maximum security prisons work is the reward for good behavior those behaving badly are condemned to just sitting around i like working it makes the time go by faster what else is the work good for working means good behavior good behavior can mean parole [Music] early release is definitely a realistic possibility in prison camps in maximum security prisons that's not yet the case due to the high risk for the population when the shift's over they return to their barracks the prisoners are not allowed to take any pointed objects out with them only those who submit unconditionally can have any hope of being released early from this hellish place back to fire island on lake navajoro in northern russia there are a few inmates who are not serving life sentences drug dealers thieves protection racketeers their job is to provide for the lifers we have our own bakery this is where we bake bread for the inmates and for sale as well the camera lens steams up due to the great difference in temperature outside minus 17 degrees in here it's around 20. rather less dangerous inmates do the baking and cooking for their extremely dangerous comrades [Music] where the food for the lifers is prepared [Music] soup tuna salad meat because a western camera crew is here today it's difficult to say whether the lifers are getting some kind of special feast from their fellow inmates in russian prisons inmates are used for all kinds of work in order to save personnel costs [Music] cooks bakers heating fitters electricians welders the list of the jobs the inmates do as long we have 53 prisoners here who keep this high security prison running on a day-to-day basis but the prisoners are of course not allowed to work in any security relevant areas those serving life sentences have their food brought to their cells three times a day bringing them all together in one dining hall is out of the question it would be too dangerous many of those imprisoned on fire island don't believe they will ever be out on parole after 25 years so they have nothing to lose they could attack guards or fellow inmates or try to take hostages to exchange for their freedom [Music] some of the men are not satisfied with the size of the portions give me some more meat what's wrong i want some more meat just take your plate do i have to tell you again i don't want any more pasta what no more pasta some lifers like to write letters to the state prosecution service complaining that they are being badly treated or not being given their toiletries it's all but most of them don't want to get involved in all this nonsense with complaints [Music] human rights organizations from the west and in russia see this matter differently according to human rights watch and memorial the russian prison system is arbitrary and violent the camera crew have seen no evidence of such conditions however only hand-picked inmates like levanov are allowed to speak in the presence of western journalists not a single word of criticism comes out of his mouth the sex offender and killer knows all too well that his slim hopes of parole would otherwise be completely compromised what's the earliest you could get out of here parole after 25 years what does that depend on most yes good behavior but this 25-year thing has never happened yet has it i don't know honestly so you've still got hope yes i still have hope back in the cell come here prisoner levano total submission no answering back and don't do anything wrong from his own experience yuri levanov knows the rules of the game that can get him paroled in his first prison term for child abuse the good behavior strategy had worked but there is one decisive difference between then and now at that time levanov was in a normal prison camp now after having committed a particularly brutal murder he's serving a sentence of life imprisonment on the island of the damned

Channel: WELT Documentary

Views: 4,750,602

Rating: 4.7826586 out of 5

Keywords: full documentary, full documentaries, hd documentary, hd documentaries, free documentary, welt documentary, welt documentaries, full length documentaries, documentary film, top documentaries, reports, factual film, prison documentary, prison documentaries, Wologodski Pjatak, jail documentary, behind bars documentary, brave new films, documentaries, documentary history, documentary 2020

Id: 3WSHYP-CYmc

Length: 50min 20sec (3020 seconds)

Published: Sun Aug 23 2020

Reddit Comments

[u/0-100]

IRL Goulag!

[u/kermityfrog]

Great documentary. They even express caveats that what they see and are being told may not be true, because they are a Western camera crew.

[u/iheartbaconsalt]

Oooh this is a good one.