Russia prepares to open Europe’s biggest prison with 4,000 inmates, a sauna and even a museum

 

Russia is to open the largest prison in Europe next year, holding 4,000 inmates in conditions officials boast will meet 'European standards'.

Pictures published in Russian media have shown the plans and building site of the vast jail, which is in Vladimir Putin's home city of St Petersburg.

The new prison is a no-expense spared affair, with a sports complex including a sauna and 'fighting room', concert hall and even a museum.

 

 

 

 

How Kresty-2 will look when its finished, according to architects' plans

 

 

 

1 - prison cells; two blocks of cells, 1,792 people in each building. Architecturally they copy the old Kresty prison, but the new buildings are double the height with eight floors instead of four

2 - dormitory for inmates who serve as prison 'housekeepers' including dining room, gym, showers and bedrooms. Holds 280 people

3 - dining room with two halls for Kresty-2 personnel, one for 150, another for 30.

4 - church

5 - single cells to dangerous prisoners and punishment sweat boxes - for 216 inmates.

6 - passage ways

7 - hospital

8 - sport complex and rest rooms, with gym and sport rooms, fighting room, wardrobes, showers, sauna and other rooms. A shooting range for use by prison staff.

9 - garage

10 - reception with small cafe, shop and a desk accepting letter and parcels

11 - 5 storey administration building, with a court room, lawyers' offices, long and short term meeting rooms, concert hall and jail museum.

12 - entry and exit facility for new and released inmates, including sanitary inspection rooms, shower and 'disinfecting' facilities and an investigative ward.

Note

Russia has the third highest prison population in the world, after the U.S. and China; however, take into account population size, and it has only the tenth highest prison population rate at 469 per 100,000.

 

The U.S. has the world's second highest prison population rate at 707 prisoners per 100,000 people.