Ognenny Ostrov
Encyclopedia
Ognenny Ostrov is a small lake island in the central Russia
n Vologda region
which hosts a monastery, converted into a high-security prison for the death-penalty inmates called Vologodskiy Pyatak or simply Pyatak . The Ognenny Ostrov island is located about 400 kilometers north of Moscow
on Lake Novozero
.
The Russian Orthodox
monastery
was founded on this island in 1517 by St. Cyril of Novozero after having witnessed "a column of fire" hitting the island. The monastery buildings were used as the backdrop in the 1973 Vasily Shukshin
movie “Red Roses” and in some of the stories by Russian writer Alexandr Yashin
.
Following the October Revolution
in 1917 it was converted into a prison to hold “enemies of the revolution”. During the 1930s and 1940s it functioned as a penal colony for the victims of the purges
of Joseph Stalin
. After Stalin's death in 1953 it was turned into a regular prison for non-political dangerous criminals.
Finally in 1997 it became a prison dedicated solely to the prisoners serving life-time and death-penalty sentences. Following the 1996 moratorium on the execution of death sentences, the sentences are automatically converted into the life in prison. There are around 193 inmates incarcerated in the prison, which is formally known as prison No. OE 256/5 – and “Pyatak” amongst the inmates (named after the last digit of the formal name).
Prison No. OE 256/5 (ФКУ ИК-5), of the Federal Penitentiary Service
, is in the Belozersky District
.
Some experts say that this prison is more comfortable and the guards are less cruel, compared to other Russian life-term prisons.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Vologda region
Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is Vologda. The largest city is Cherepovets.Vologda Oblast is rich in historic monuments, such as the magnificent Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, Ferapontov Convent , medieval towns of Velikiy Ustyug and Belozersk, baroque...
which hosts a monastery, converted into a high-security prison for the death-penalty inmates called Vologodskiy Pyatak or simply Pyatak . The Ognenny Ostrov island is located about 400 kilometers north of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
on Lake Novozero
Lake Novozero
Lake Novozero , is a Russian lake in the Vologda Oblast. The lake has the island Ognenny Ostrov which now holds a high-security penal institution....
.
The Russian Orthodox
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
was founded on this island in 1517 by St. Cyril of Novozero after having witnessed "a column of fire" hitting the island. The monastery buildings were used as the backdrop in the 1973 Vasily Shukshin
Vasily Shukshin
Vasily Makarovich Shukshin was a notable Soviet/Russian actor, writer, screenwriter and movie director from the Altay region who specialized in rural themes. Upon his death, Shukshin was interred at Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.-Biography:...
movie “Red Roses” and in some of the stories by Russian writer Alexandr Yashin
Alexandr Yashin
Alexander Yakovlevich Yashin was a Soviet writer associated with the Village Prose movement.-Early life:Alexander was born in northern Russia in the village of Bludnovo, Vologda Region, into a poor peasant family. Yashin finished a teacher's training college, and spent some time teaching in a...
.
Following the October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
in 1917 it was converted into a prison to hold “enemies of the revolution”. During the 1930s and 1940s it functioned as a penal colony for the victims of the purges
Great Purge
The Great Purge was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin from 1936 to 1938...
of Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
. After Stalin's death in 1953 it was turned into a regular prison for non-political dangerous criminals.
Finally in 1997 it became a prison dedicated solely to the prisoners serving life-time and death-penalty sentences. Following the 1996 moratorium on the execution of death sentences, the sentences are automatically converted into the life in prison. There are around 193 inmates incarcerated in the prison, which is formally known as prison No. OE 256/5 – and “Pyatak” amongst the inmates (named after the last digit of the formal name).
Prison No. OE 256/5 (ФКУ ИК-5), of the Federal Penitentiary Service
Federal Penitentiary Service
Federal Penitentiary Service - is the official name of the Russian federal prison authority responsible for security and maintenance of prisons and detention facilities in Russia...
, is in the Belozersky District
Belozersky District, Vologda Oblast
Belozersky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Belozersky Municipal District...
.
Some experts say that this prison is more comfortable and the guards are less cruel, compared to other Russian life-term prisons.
Notable prisoners
- Nur-Pashi KulayevNur-Pashi KulayevNur-Pashi Kulayev , a native of Engenoi, Chechnya, is thought to be the sole survivor of the 32 hostage-takers in the 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis, although Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev denied the claim, stating that one other escaped....
- terrorist who was a conspirator in the Beslan school hostage crisisBeslan school hostage crisisThe Beslan school hostage crisis of early September 2004 was a three-day hostage-taking of over 1,100 people which ended in the deaths of over 380... - Alexander PichushkinAlexander PichushkinAlexander Yuryevich "Sasha" Pichushkin , also known as The Chessboard Killer and The Bitsa Park Maniac, is a Russian serial killer...
- serial killer
Media
- Three Days and Never Again (Last Visit). Video. 53 min. Director: Alexsandr Goutman, 1998.
External links
- "ФКУ ИК-5." Federal Penitentiary ServiceFederal Penitentiary ServiceFederal Penitentiary Service - is the official name of the Russian federal prison authority responsible for security and maintenance of prisons and detention facilities in Russia...
, Vologda OblastVologda OblastVologda Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is Vologda. The largest city is Cherepovets.Vologda Oblast is rich in historic monuments, such as the magnificent Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, Ferapontov Convent , medieval towns of Velikiy Ustyug and Belozersk, baroque...
- Sentenced to Life on Fire Island. December 23, 2004. Last accessed August 8, 2006.
- Sentence to Life on Fire Island. Photo Essay. The Moscow TimesThe Moscow TimesThe Moscow Times is an English-language daily newspaper published in Moscow, Russia since 1992. The circulation in 2008 stood at 35,000 copies and the newspaper is typically given out for free at places English-language "expats" attend, including hotels, cafés and restaurants, as well as by...
, December 23, 2004. Last accessed August 8, 2006. - Google Maps Location. Last accessed August 8, 2006.