Orlovsky central is known as one of the largest prisons of pre-revolutionary Russia. Remarkably, the penitentiary institution still exists today under the official name of SIZO-57/1. The prison was famous for its cruel attitude towards the prisoners. The true and complete history of the Oryol central in our article.
Foundation of the prison in Orel
In 1840 a convict company appeared in Orel, after thirty years it was reorganized into the Prisoner of Prisons. In 1908, the prison expands again and receives a new name - Katorga Orlovskiy central. At that time, the correctional institution was designed for 1200 prisoners. At the same time, often the total number of prisoners reached 1,400 people. At the time of its foundation, the prison consisted of a main building, a "serf" building, a new building, a single building for "newcomers". On the territory of the prison there was also a prison hospital, designed for 70 people. Orlovsky central had cameras with a capacity of 28-36 prisoners. However, often in one room there were up to 60 prisoners.
History of Correctional Facility
In 1917, against a background of the general situation in the country, the correctional institution ceased to exist. However, already in 1926 the prison in Orel was reborn. Among the first prisoners there are former jailers. The most famous among them: Rykhlensky (head physician of the prison hospital), Simashko-Solodovnikov, the Former, von Kube, Zhernov, Novchenko. Like in many other prisons, the Orel central police kept together political and criminal criminals. The attitude towards all prisoners was disgusting. During the Second World War, just before the occupation of the Eagle by enemy troops, Stalin ordered to shoot political prisoners who were in the city prison. The city was occupied by German troops, in October 1941, the invaders organized a concentration camp on the territory of the Orel Central. After the war, the Orel central began to function in the usual mode.
Conditions of detention and interesting facts
Numerous historical evidences confirm that the attitude towards the prisoners in prison was dreadful. In the period from 1908 to 1912, the prison of Orel Central buried 437 prisoners. And these are only figures of official statistics. Overcrowded cells, non-observance of sanitary and hygienic standards. In the prison, epidemics of various diseases have constantly erupted. At the same time, despite the presence of the hospital, in most cases, assistance to the prisoners was not provided. More colorful than all about the prison told F.E. Dzerzhinsky. His letter, sent from the Orlovsky central, has survived, which tells about the mass mortality of prisoners.
In the beginning of the last century, instead of modern cards, prisoners were given "tickets". The document contained general information about the prisoner: name, date and brief description of the act, term of imprisonment. Interestingly, at that time, the convicts were more often called "vagabonds". The real test for prisoners was hard labor. On the territory of Orel Central there was a corps of royal workshops. There were "official" production: prisoners made shackles and chains, horseshoes for the army. Quite often orders were received from private entrepreneurs. Then the prisoners began to work on furniture, bookbinding, shoe production.
Orel central today
Today, the jail that celebrated the centennial anniversary is called SIZO No. 1 in the town of Eagle, on its base there is also a prison tuberculosis hospital. One of the oldest buildings was preserved on the territory of the penitentiary. This is the body, where in tsarist times the most dangerous criminals were kept. The building is restored and continues to be used for its original purpose. Another local "point of interest" is the camera where Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky, a famous Russian revolutionary, was sitting. The room is kept in its historical form. Employees of the prison say that sometimes they are troubled by Felix Edmundovich's ghost. Tourist excursions here, unfortunately, are not offered. But anyone can always learn about the prison much more, hitting it as a prisoner.