Imprisoned anti-Kremlin Alexey Navalny reported that anti-Semitic and patriotic songs were played to prisoners in his penal colony as part of proper “education”. Among them are compositions that contain criticism of the Russian military leadership – in the spirit of the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
In theory, the purpose of prisons and detention camps is to bring about behavioral change in criminals. That’s why the colonies were also called “prison facilities,” Navalny said briefly on Telegram. In order for this to succeed, educational work is carried out. They fulfill an extremely important function in the entire prison system.
In practice, however, in Russia it is only colossal fiction, the Kremlin critic emphasizes. The detainees would only be shown “extremism prevention” videos and playing patriotic music. And the selection is tough, says Navalny.
Do prisons support Prigozhin?
Several times a day, the prisoners heard the composition “Where does the fatherland begin” by the ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky. Critical songs about the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and the “special military operation”, as the war in Ukraine is called in Russia, are also popular.
The rhetoric is reminiscent of that of Prigozhin, who in his angry speeches repeatedly denounced Shoigu, the incompetence of the Ministry of Defense or the lavish life of the elites, who did not care that the people died at the front.
Defense Minister Shoigu teased
In one of the compositions, the text reads as follows: “Our boys were attacked again, they had to hold out under heavy fire, a rat in the staff (here probably meant Shoigu and the Ministry of Defense, editor’s note) is planning mischief and it’s a shame we haven’t caught them yet.”
Another song reads: “As the generals in Moscow announce new victories with champagne, the Russian boys die for Russia – they have no pity for the enemy, with a smile on their lips.” Navalny regularly asks the generals: “Listen carefully, do you know what is being played in the Häfn? They are going to lock you up for extremism themselves for that,” the politician states matter-of-factly. It is remarkable how critical the lyrics are to the conditions in present-day Russia and how the prisons seem to support Prigozhin.
The Kremlin’s opponent had previously announced that the prisoners would have to endure speeches by Russian President Vladimir Putin at full volume in the evening.
Will Navalny ever be released?
The Kremlin critic was arrested on his return from Germany in January 2021 and convicted of violating probation terms and fraud. In August 2020, he collapsed during a flight within Russia.
First he was treated in Russia and then transferred to the Berlin Charité. There, poisoning with a nerve gas was diagnosed. The Moscow government has denied allegations that Russian authorities attempted to assassinate him. A new trial is currently underway against him. The absurd accusation accuses him of planning terrorist attacks in prison. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison. So Navalny’s chances of ever being released are getting smaller and smaller.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.