White Swan Prison: History and Inside Look

"White Swan" (IK-2), located in the Perm region of Russia, is one of the country’s most tightly controlled high-security prisons. Known as a "red prison", it operates under strict administrative control. It houses some of Russia’s most dangerous and high-profile inmates, many of them sentenced to life imprisonment. Inmates are separated from the outside world by 15 layers of security, over 500 guards, 50 trained dogs, and strict rules of engagement authorizing lethal force in case of escape attempts. Most prisoners will never leave and will be buried on the prison grounds.

 Historical Background

The institution’s history dates back to February 1938, when the Usolsky Corrective Labor Camp was established in the town of Solikamsk. Originally part of the GULAG system, the camp held around 10,000 inmates, who were primarily used for logging — one of the most common and economically valuable forms of forced labor in the Soviet penal system. Conditions were brutal, and mortality was high: in 1939 alone, 1,700 of the camp’s 32,000 inmates died.

In 1955, the labor camp was closed, and a regular penal colony was established in its place. In the early 1980s, the institution began targeting "thieves-in-law" (leaders in the Russian criminal hierarchy), aiming to break their influence. This was done inside a specialized facility called the EPKT (Unified Cell-Type Premises).

 Methods of Suppression

The so-called "breaking" of criminal leaders involved a range of strategies: intimidation, psychological pressure, and physical abuse. One method included falsely diagnosing inmates with terminal illnesses, contingent on renouncing their status as thieves-in-law to receive treatment. Another tactic involved placing them in cells with "suki", former criminals who cooperated with prison authorities, to pressure them into surrendering their criminal rank.

Unofficial reports claim that more than 130 thieves-in-law lost their status in White Swan. One of the most notable was Vladimir Babushkin, known as Vasya Brilliant, a legendary figure in the criminal world. He died in the prison in 1985 under suspicious circumstances. While officially ruled as natural causes, many believe he was murdered for his refusal to comply.

 Transition to Life Imprisonment Facility

In 1999, White Swan was officially reclassified as a colony for life-sentenced inmates. The EPKT, once used to suppress criminal authorities, became the main housing unit. Its cells are fitted with reinforced doors and other high-security measures. That year, 24 prisoners serving life terms were transferred to the facility.

White Swan is part of the OIK-2 correctional complex, which also includes IK-1, a colony for inmates serving long sentences (not life). The complex also houses two lower-security settlements.

 Origin of the Name

There are several theories about the prison’s name:

1. It was built on a clearing locals called “White Swan.”

2. Swan figurines once decorated the prison gates.

3. The two white buildings and winding paths resemble the necks of swans.

Inmate folklore, however, offers darker interpretations. Some say the name reflects the strict regime — a “swan song” before death. Others suggest it’s due to the bent, restrained posture of inmates as they’re marched through the facility.

Regardless, the name has become a recognized brand within the prison system. Inmates produce swan-themed items like weather vanes, trash bins, and decorative wooden crafts as part of prison labor.

 Security and Conditions

Today, about 300 of the 2,500 inmates in OIK-2 are serving life sentences. These prisoners are watched over by 500 staff and 50 specially trained dogs. Applicants hoping to work at the prison must pass a rigorous screening process that includes higher education, strong psychological resilience, excellent health, and a clean personal and family background.

Cells typically house one to three inmates, with compatibility assessed by psychologists. For example, warlord Salman Raduyev once shared a cell with a former special forces officer — individuals who would have been enemies outside but managed peaceful coexistence behind bars.

 Notable Inmates

• Salman Raduyev – Chechen field commander, died in White Swan in 2002 from internal bleeding.

• Adam Tsurov – Convicted of organizing the 1999 Vladikavkaz market bombing that killed 52 people.

• Alexander Murylyov – Known as one of Russia's first "black realtors"; murdered elderly homeowners to sell their apartments.

• Denis Pischikov (a.k.a. "Ural Raskolnikov") – Killed over a dozen pensioners using an axe.

• Maxim Petrov ("Doctor Death") – A medical assistant who murdered elderly patients and robbed their homes.

• Dmitry Vinogradov – "Russian Breivik," murdered six coworkers in 2012, allegedly driven by unrequited love.

• Roman Altukhov – Attacked the judge who once sentenced him by stabbing and disfiguring her.

• Alexander Chayka – Known as the "Mink Coat Killer," he murdered four women in elevators in Moscow.

• Igor Izmestyev – Former senator from Bashkortostan, convicted of organizing contract killings.

Photographs of inmates and summaries of their crimes are posted outside their cells to remind guards who they are dealing with. Prison staff are trained to open fire immediately in case of escape attempts.

 Escape Attempt

But there were attempts to escape from “White Swan.” The most notorious and daring one took place in 1992. A prisoner named Shafranov managed to get hold of a hand grenade, smuggled in by a corrupt prison officer. Armed with it, he stormed into the office of the head of the EPKT (a special cell block for isolating inmates) and, threatening to detonate the grenade, demanded the release of his friend — a repeat offender named Taranyuk.

At first, the escape attempt seemed to go in their favor. They took a senior member of the prison administration hostage and demanded a vehicle. But the prison authorities decided to use force. An explosion followed. One of the responding law enforcement officers was killed, and Taranyuk died in the blast. Shafranov lost both feet.

What happened to him afterward remains unclear. According to some accounts, he was executed. Others claim he served twelve years, was released, and eventually turned to religion, becoming a preacher.

 Conclusion

White Swan remains one of the most secure and feared prisons in Russia. Despite its bleak reputation, the facility continues to operate with rigid structure, constant surveillance, and an inmate population that includes some of the most notorious criminals in Russian history.