The key facts
- Psychiatrist Alexey Gavrish worked at Kresty for seven years and left before 2016
- According to him, employees who reveled in their power did not stay in the system for long
- Gavrish believes that the mindset of the staff is passed on to the inmates
Former psychiatrist of Kresty on cruelty in the system
Psychiatrist Alexey Gavrish, who worked for seven years at the St. Petersburg pre-trial detention facility Kresty and left the system before 2016, gave an interview to Gazeta.Ru about violence in places of deprivation of liberty. According to him, reading today's news, he gets the feeling that the system has turned into a 'conveyor belt of cruelty'.
'The main principle of the zone is that everything must be calm'
Gavrish said that during his time working there, employees who began to revel in their power did not stay at the prison for long. In his opinion, no one needs to continuously resolve conflicts and sort out fights — 'it is much more pleasant to come to work and drink tea'.
Accumulated resentment and the staff's mindset
The doctor noted that even if an inmate stays silent in response to violence and cruelty, resentment builds up in him and 'sooner or later it will all spill over into big problems.' According to Gavrish, the mindset of the staff of institutions is passed on to the contingent, so an employee should be 'well-rested and content with life' — then it is calmer for the inmates to serve their time as well.
Context
It was previously reported that former senator Rauf Arashukov, serving a life sentence in the Black Dolphin colony, was transferred to a punishment cell (SHIZO) for refusing to work.
