Lukyanivska Prison
Lukianivska Prison (Ukrainian: Лук'янівська в'язниця, transliterated: "Luk'janivsjka v'jaznitsja") is a famous historical prison in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, located in the central Lukianivka neighborhood of the city. It is officially known as SIZO#13 (Ukrainian: Слідчий ізолятор№13, Slidchyi izoliator #13) which is a portmanteau for Slidchyi IZOliator (Ukrainian: слідчий ізолятор).
Though the facility is now functioning as a pre-conviction
detention center, it is still colloquially called a "prison". The compound now includes minor examples of the historical architecture. The prison is infamous for its poor condition.[1][2][3] Since late February 2016 the complex is on sale; its buyer has to build a new detention facility outside Kyiv in exchange for the territory of Lukyanivska Prison.[4]
History
The foundation of the prison dates back to early 19th century when it was built by the
OGPU Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Soviet Union
during which time it accounted for more than 25,000 inmates.
The prison consists of several buildings that over the years were uniquely titled by the holdovers. The oldest building is known as Katenka. It is the building that kept all of those sentenced to
Prime Minister Stolypin. Later another two buildings were added to its structure: Brezhnivka (built after the war) and Kuchmovka (built at times of the Ukrainian independence). There is also a juvenile detention
building known as Maloletka ("Underage") or Stalinka. Other buildings are ZhK (female building), Bolnichka (Hospital).
TVi constitutional rights of prisoners has been violated in the institute.[3] In April 2012 Kyiv Prosecutor Anatoliy Melnyk stated the facility was and had been regularly overcrowded.[2]
In order to improve the living conditions of inmates the
Ukrainian Ministry of Justice put the Lukyanivska complex on sale late February 2016.[4] Its buyer has to build a new detention facility outside Kyiv in exchange for the territory of Lukyanivska Prison.[4]
Notable inmates
- OGPU
- Maxim Litvinov (Meir Wallach), a Soviet diplomat
- Archduke Wilhelm of Austria, a Ukrainian national activist, military leader
- Oleg Orlov, an arms smuggler and the prototype for the main protagonist in Lord of War
- Yulia Tymoshenko (née: Grigyan), political activist, former Prime Minister of Ukraine
- In February 2001, the former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko spent forty two days there as a suspect in a corruption case, but was later acquitted. The prison experienced mass protests and picketing by supporters of Tymoshenko.
- During her trial over abuse of office Tymoshenko was arrested and again detained at Lukyanivska Prison between August 5, 2011 and 2014.[1][5][6][7][8]
- Cardinal of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
- Hryhorij Chomyszyn, a Ukrainian Catholic bishop and martyr
- Maksym Rylsky, a Ukrainian poet
- Sergei Parajanov, an Armenian film director
- Sovnarkom)
- Nikolai Kibalchich, a rocket pioneer, Russian revolutionary
- Irina Kakhovskaya, an organizer of General von Eichhorn assassination
- Yulia Krukovskaya, a Narodnik revolutionary
- Jarosław Dąbrowski, a Polish national activist, military leader
- Vyacheslav Chornovil, a Ukrainian national activist
- Old Bolshevik
- Volodymyr Vynnychenko, a Prime Minister of Ukraine in Ukrainian People's Republic
- Old Bolshevik
- Pavel Bermondt-Avalov, a Russian general
- Several activists of the 2001 inmates of the facility when convicted for riotactivities.
- Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs[9]
References
- ^ a b c Ukraine's ombudsman confirms Tymoshenko's illness, Kyiv Post (September 17, 2011)
- ^ a b Kyiv prosecutor vows to solve the problem of overcrowding in Kyiv’s detention center, Kyiv Post (11 April 2012)
- ^ a b Pshonka orders checks on penal institutions in all regions in Ukraine, Kyiv Post (10 April 2012)
- ^ a b c Infamous Kyiv prison goes on sale, Kyiv Post (Feb. 24, 2016)
(in Ukrainian) Jail Lukyanivska in Kyiv will be put up for sale, Interfax-Ukraine (Feb. 10, 2016) - ^ guardian.co.uk(16 October 2011)
- ^ Ukraine timeline, BBC News
- ^ Q&A: Ukraine's Yulia Tymoshenko on trial, BBC News (9 August 2011)
- ^ BBC News (August 8, 2011). "Protesters gather as Tymoshenko trial resumes in Kiev". Retrieved August 20, 2011.
- ^ Appeal court upholds extension of Lutsenko's arrest, Kyiv Post (February 25, 2011)
External links
- (in Russian) Russian news agency reports on Tymoshenko's case